December 1, 2021

Columbus State University’s Jennifer Joyner has been elected president of the Georgia Education Advancement Council, a professional development organization for higher education advancement leaders. At CSU, Joyner is the assistant vice president of alumni engagement and special events.

GEAC is a statewide organization of those who work at public and private colleges and universities in areas of educational advancement, including alumni, development, public affairs and communications. Founded in 1972, the organization meets annually to connect professionals with opportunities to advance their institutions. Joyner previously received the 2019 GEAC Alumni Relations Recognition Award, given to professionals who have served at least five years in higher education and demonstrated outstanding achievement and commitment to their university.

At CSU, Joyner has been instrumental in creating student engagement opportunities with the Alumni Association, including the now-traditional Senior Toast and the CSU Tower Traditions program with Student Life. She has worked to make the Alumni Association Board of Directors more mission focused and accessible for alumni living outside of the Chattahoochee Valley. Locally, Joyner created the First Thursday networking events, which consistently sell out. In 2018, Joyner helped to approve a $50,000 endowment for needs-based scholarships for students and was instrumental in the First Choice Comprehensive Capital Campaign, which raised more than $120 million for CSU.

Joyner also serves in pivotal leadership roles planning signature university events that include Homecoming Week, Faculty and Staff Welcome Week and Commencement activities.

Joyner has been at CSU since 2011 and has served in her role as assistant vice president since 2016. Prior to CSU, she worked in development positions at Children’s Miracle Network and University of South Carolina Beaufort. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Mercer University and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from CSU.