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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (August 13, 2003) — Milligan President Don Jeanes announced a new post to faculty and staff this week when Lee Fierbaugh was named the college’s first associate vice president for communications. Fierbaugh, who has served for nine years as the college’s director of public relations, will also assume a position on the President’s Cabinet.
“This is an exciting and pivotal time in Milligan’s history,” stated Jeanes. “With a new mission statement in place, it is our goal to marshal all of the college’s marketing and communications resources to advance that mission. Lee has demonstrated the commitment and competence to make this happen. There is no more appropriate person to head up this new effort.”
Jeanes explained that the appointment is a logical move since communications and marketing impacts and affects every aspect of the college.
“In light of our new mission,” continued Jeanes, “it will be more important than ever that we communicate clearly the value of what Milligan offers both to students and to the community. That value is in helping students find their true success and purpose in life in the leadership model of Jesus Christ born out in service to their employers, communities, families and churches.”
Last year, Milligan announced a new mission statement which centers on using the college’s strong academic reputation to “honor God by educating men and women to be servant-leaders.” To that end, the college has secured several million dollars in new funding to add programs which will more effectively serve students. This fall new honors scholarship offerings, campus life programs, spiritual enrichment activities, enhancements to the curriculum, and leadership and service training opportunities will be added at Milligan as part of the college’s $30 million Campaign for Christian Leadership.
Fierbaugh’s new responsibilities will include the formation and direction of an integrated marketing and communications plan, led by a team made up of key college personnel. This team will formulate marketing and communications strategies, with the intent to help the college realize long range and strategic goals to enhance the college’s reputation, increase enrollment and retention, and attract new levels of financial support and alumni participation.
Fierbaugh will also make recommendations to the President about future marketing directions, evaluate the effectiveness of marketing and communications activities, and actively examine external market forces and trends which will have an impact on the college’s direction.
Fierbaugh will continue to be the college’s primary public relations official, overseeing both internal and external communications and publications, including sports information personnel and the college’s web communication. She will continue as a member of the Institutional Advancement team at Milligan.
Fierbaugh holds a bachelor of science in communications from Milligan College and a master of arts in communication from Regent University. She attended the Wharton | IRHE Program in Higher Education at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and is a 2001 graduate of the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Leadership Class. She serves as her church’s coordinator for the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Johnson City.
Fierbaugh serves on the boards of the Tri-Cities chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the PR Council of the Appalachian College Association (ACA). She is an adjunct instructor in public relations at Milligan, and has presented or moderated sessions at conferences held by the ACA, the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) and the Tennessee College Public Relations Association (TCPRA).
At Milligan, Fierbaugh has been influential in developing communication strategies to launch new programs and campaigns, including Youth in Ministry, Leaders in Christian Service, the Institute for Servant Leadership, the Milligan College Campaign for Christian Leadership, and several academic programs. She is the editor and publisher of the college’s quarterly constituent magazine and has initiated an internal communication program at the college.
“We are pleased to have Lee on our staff and look forward to exciting new opportunities in our communications and marketing efforts,” said Jeanes.