Shorter University Student Affairs Division Announces Staff Changes

January 16, 2013 - The Division of Student Affairs at Shorter University has announced two recent staff changes. Emily Messer has been promoted to Assistant Dean of Student Affairs from her position as Director of Student Life, and Wes Moran has joined the division as Career Development Coordinator.

Mrs. Messer has served as Director of Student Life at Shorter since July 2007; in her new role, she will continue to direct Student Life activities and oversee the office of Residence Life and Student Conduct. She will facilitate the enhancement of residence life programs and campus programming.

Mrs. Messer earned the Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Spanish, magna cum laude, in 2005 and the Master of Public Administration in education in 2007 from Jacksonville State University.  She currently serves on the executive board of the Georgia College Personnel Association and received the Outstanding New Professional Award from the organization in 2009.  She also serves as the State Coordinator for Georgia in the National Orientation Directors Association.  Among many awards she has received, Mrs. Messer was presented with the Most Outstanding Intern Award by the National Orientation Directors Association.  As an undergraduate, she was on the Executive Council of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, was SGA President, JSU Ambassador and orientation staff leader. 

Mrs. Messer is pursuing her doctorate in higher education administration at the University of Alabama.  She was recently named 2012 Jacksonville State University Young Alumna of the Year.  She and her husband, Chris, have a daughter, and they reside in Rome.

Mr. Moran brings many years of experience in career planning and development, employer relations and partnerships to his post at Shorter. He came to Shorter from Berry College, where he served in the roles of Director of Employer Development and Director of the Career Center since 1993. His other experiences include career development leadership at Rhodes College and Armstrong State College, as well as teaching classes in career development and strategies for success at all of these colleges.

Mr. Moran graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Master of Education in counseling and guidance services.  He and his wife, Lecia, have two sons: Matthew, 16, and Mark, 13.

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christian university committed to excellence in education. The Princeton Review annually includes Shorter on its list of best value and best Southeastern Colleges. Shorter University is a member of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). Shorter offers traditional bachelor’s degree program in 48 areas of study, online courses and degree programs, undergraduate programs for working adults, and four master’s programs. Shorter is online at www.shorter.edu.

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