TFAA—Leadership

From its inception, the Toccoa Falls Alumni Association has had officers, members, and a Constitution. And since these early beginnings in 1923, many changes in governance have been brought about to ensure consistency with leadership and consistency with purpose. Here is a snapshot of that progression as has been recorded.

The mission of the Alumni Relations Department is to serve as the guiding force behind the alumni association, providing personnel, energy and growth strategies with the purpose of moving the association forward in areas of volunteer and financial participation to further the mission of the college.

The overall leadership of the Alumni Association falls under the guidance of the Alumni Office, specifically, the Toccoa Falls Alumni Director. The primary objectives of the Alumni Relations Director is to provide leadership to the alumni association and its board of directors, act as a liaison between the association and the college, and to develop fund-raising efforts through cooperative efforts of the alumni membership base.

Since 1923, the alumni association has had a president who provided leadership and governance to the alumni association. By the mid 1950s it was decided that leadership and governance should be divided between volunteer and salaried positions. In 1958, the college created a new position and named Rev. Hendon Brown as the first Toccoa Falls Alumni Director. One of his first tasks was to put a committee together which eventually became the Alumni Board of Directors in 1959. The first alumni board meeting was held in 1960.

From 1974 through the present day of 2008, the following directors led the alumni association effectively through transitions of college leadership, meticulously orchestrated various changes in board structure and responsibilities, and prayerfully challenged membership participation in several fund-raising campaigns.

  • 1974—Dr. Charles Good (1949) was acting director in addition to his faculty position
  • 1976-1983—Rev. Nathan B. Penland (HS 1940) served as Executive Director
  • 1983-1988—Dr. W. Wayne Gardner (1969) served as Alumni Affairs/Church Relations Director
  • 1988-1989—Rev. Stephen Reibsome (1979) served as Director for Alumni Affairs
  • 1989—Rev. Donn Bogert (1976) and Dr. Wayne Gardner (1969) served as Directors during the search process for a full-time Alumni Director
  • 1990-1994—Rev. Jack McLaughlin (1978) served as Alumni Director
  • 1994-1999—Mrs. Linda Grant (HS 1957, BC 1961) served as Director for Alumni and Public Relations
  • 1999-2001—Mr. Curtis Hays (1989) served as Director for Alumni Relations
  • 2001-2005—Rev. Jack McLaughlin (1978) returned to Toccoa Falls College and served as Director for Development, Alumni and Church Relations
  • 2005-present—Miss Sharon Sanderson (1971) currently serves as Director for Alumni and College Relations, overseeing Alumni, Church, and Public Relations and the administrative functions of the Advancement Office

The authority vested in the alumni association shall proceed from the membership-at-large, and the governance of the association is overseen by the Board of Directors as designated in the Constitution. The organization’s authority and actions shall be subject to the Alumni Office, and ultimately, to the Board of Trustees. (Article 2)

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