Shorter University Advancement Division adds three staff members

July 3, 2012 - Shorter University has hired three staff members in its Office for University Advancement. Neely Raper, a 2000 graduate of Shorter, is serving as Director of Development. Sheri Ransome has been named Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving. Both began work at Shorter in June. In addition, Loni Beth Jones, a 2011 Shorter graduate, was recently hired to serve as Office Coordinator for the Advancement division.

 “We are definitely excited about the new additions to our team,” said Bert Epting, vice president for university advancement at Shorter. “The experience they bring to annual giving, development, and the alumni experience will make for many opportunities to engage and grow the Shorter Family for years to come. They are passionate about higher education and passionate about serving the Lord in all they do. We are blessed to have Sheri, Neely and Loni Beth as a part of the Shorter Family.”

Mr. Raper will lead Shorter’s development efforts through personal and corporate solicitation, events, and through sharing his experiences as a Shorter alumnus. He came to Shorter from Avalon Industrial Products, LLC, where he had served as general manager since 2010. He also has served as general manager and partner at Sunbelt Turf Farms, LLC, in Calhoun and as a sales manager with Turfgrass America. A combat veteran, Mr. Raper was in the U.S. Army, serving as an assistant to the battalion commander. He participated in Operation Desert Shield/Storm. In 1989, he was named Soldier of the Year for the 24 th Infantry Division; in addition, he was a two-time Soldier of the Quarter for the 3 rd Battalion, 69 th Armor Regiment.

Mr. Raper graduated from Shorter with a Bachelor of Science in Management. A longtime volunteer for Ducks Unlimited, he currently serves on that organization’s state committee as State Chairman Elect. In this post, he manages and leads a large group of volunteers in fundraising efforts. As a field expert for Drake Waterfowl, he received the 2011 Conservation Champion Award. He enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his family and training his Labrador Retrievers. He and his wife, April, have been married for 15 years and have two children: Sam, 13, and Holly, 9. They are members of Trinity United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Ransome will lead Shorter’s alumni relations and annual giving efforts through events, mailings, phonathons, and building relationships with all of the Shorter Family. She comes to Shorter from Samford University, where she has served as Director of Annual Giving since 2006. At Samford, she also served as Annual Giving Officer from 2003 to 2006. She also worked as Campaign Director and Communications Coordinator for Wilson-Bennett, Inc., in Searcy, Ark., and as interim Assistant Director of Development at Troy State University, where she had served as a Phonathon caller and Office Manager.

Mrs. Ransome graduated from Troy State University with a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Communication Arts. She served as chair of the Staff Advisory Council at Samford University and is active in the Alabama chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, currently serving as vice president for education of that organization. Her article, “Special Report: 10 Ways to Prime Your Annual Fund Campaign,” was published in Successful Fund Raising.

Ms. Jones assists the directors in the university advancement division in addition to providing leadership with social media and young alumni. She is a native of Huntsville, Ala. She is a 2007 graduate of Madison County High School. She transferred to Shorter in 2008 and played volleyball for the Lady Hawks until graduating in 2011 with a degree in Art with an emphasis in photography. She is building a small business in photography in her spare time and, as a young alumna, will provide great insight into engaging and involving young alumni at Shorter. Her excitement and energy through her many years of playing team sports is contagious and will be an integral part of the success of alumni relations at Shorter for many years to come.

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