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July 31, 2013

ULM alum Devin Girod hired as alumni affairs director

The University of Louisiana at Monroe announces ULM alum and Clarks native Devin Girod as the new Director of Alumni Affairs.

He will begin his new position on Aug. 1.

ULM Executive Vice President Stephen Richters said he is pleased to welcome Girod to ULM.

"Both the alumni board and I have every confidence in Mr. Girod. Devin will rise to the challenge and work with the Alumni Association as it evolves and supports the university in the ever changing environment of higher education."

Girod said he is looking forward to the new opportunity.

"I have the unique perspective of an undergraduate student, a graduate student, a graduate assistant, a former PREP staffer, and an alumnus of ULM. Therefore, my past six years have been all ULM. Now I will have the ability to better the university I have grown to love and show pride in – this is a special opportunity."

Girod has several plans for the next few years.

"I want to identify the components our alumni are looking for in their regional events," he said.

"I am hopeful this will encourage ULM's alumni base to attend their regional events and get excited about all the positive things happening on our campus."

As an alumni relations graduate assistant, Girod enjoyed learning the job and watching the full-time employees engage with their positions.

Regarding his appointment, Anne Lockhart, interim executive director of ULM Foundation and Alumni Relations, said, "Devin has literally learned his job from the ground up, and he is now ready to hit that ground running. We welcome this fine ULM product to our team, and we look forward to working with him in building upon the rich and diverse tradition shared with our alumni and friends throughout the growth of this wonderful university."

Girod obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication in 2011 and recently completed his Master of Arts in Communication.

Through these programs, he said he gathered all the skills necessary to thrive in his new position.

"The position combines my passions for networking, writing, and general forms of communication. It entails everything I have prepared for in my studies, internship, and graduate assistantship," Girod said.

"Communication is important in this position, as the job consists of relationship building and maintaining the relationships I have with our alumni."

Ronald "Scott" Higginbotham, president of the ULM Alumni Association Board of Directors, said of Girod, "There is no doubt that with Devin's personality and drive, he has the capabilities to work with the younger ULM Warhawk generation of alums as well as with the older ones like me. He genuinely loves ULM and it certainly comes through when conversing with him and seeing it in his actions. I would like to ask all ULM alums, ULM alumni by choice, friends of the university, students, ULM employees, and administrators to join me and the ULM Alumni Board of Directors in welcoming Devin to his new position. We wish him success of the highest nature in the years to come."

Girod's new position is pending approval by the UL System Board of Supervisors. He replaces Tommy Walpole, who was appointed the ULM Executive Director of Auxiliary Enterprises.

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