November 16, 2021

The CSU Alumni Association recently welcomed two new members to its Board of Directors. Jerry “Pops” Barnes Sr. and Sendreka Lakes will serve on the board for three years.

Barnes, a 2001 graduate of the School of Nursing, served 20 years in the U.S. Army. Upon retirement, he began providing free community health nursing in Columbus. In 2006, he was elected to the Columbus City Council and has served as the District 1 representative since. Barnes resides in Columbus with his wife, Jannie, with whom he has eight children, 10 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Lakes is a 2011 and 2013 graduate of the D. Abbott Turner College of Business. She currently serves as the employee relations coordinator for the Muscogee County School District. Additionally, Lakes serves on a number of local boards, including the Local Workforce Development Board, Hiring Well Doing Good Steering Committee and the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education Coalition. She resides in Columbus with her husband, Raymond Lakes III.

The CSU Alumni Association was established in 1960 with the central purpose of engaging the university’s alumni. Today, the association aims to support, foster and promote the objectives of CSU and establish mutually beneficial relationships between the 38,000 CSU degree-holders and the university.

The current Board of Directors is led by President Cortney Laughlin Wilson, Vice President Twilya Toombs and Secretary Lionel Haynes Jr. Board members must be annual supporters of CSU, participate in sponsored programs and activities, be an ambassador on behalf of CSU and the Alumni Association, attend scheduled board meetings and offer ideas to make the association more meaningful to alumni and the CSU community.

Applications for new board members are now open and due March 31, 2022.