Lane College is pleased to announce De'Shawn Barnes as Director of Alumni Affairs. Barnes received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2022. Previously, Barnes served as an Enrollment Counselor in the Office of Enrollment Management, where his focus was to reach and guide students and parents through each step of the admissions and enrollment process and represent the College at college fairs, expos, and private visits.
"I am elated to have been appointed to lead the Office of Alumni Affairs at my alma mater," Barnes said. I am looking forward to engaging with our esteemed alumni. I am also excited to make a positive contribution in this area and excited to be a part of the ongoing progress at the college."
As Director of Alumni Affairs, Barnes will help communicate the college's accomplishments and upcoming events with alumni. He will work closely with the Director of Annual Fund and the National Alumni Association in fundraising projects and cultivate relationships with alumni.
"De'Shawn has a personal understanding of Lane's alumni as one of the College's most important strengths," Darlette Carver Samuels, Chief of Staff and Vice President of Institutional Advancement said. He is very capable of meeting our goals to honor the excellence of our graduates and to foster lifelong relationships with our students and alumni."
Barnes, a native of West Memphis, Arkansas, has been a fixture at Lane College starting from the time he set foot on the campus as a student leader. Barnes served as President of the Student Government Association, President of Phi Beta Lambda Business Fraternity Incorporated, and Presidential Scholar Leader for the Power of Potential Scholarship Program. He was selected among top scholars as a 2022-2023 White House Scholar with the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In addition, he was also an award-winning lead residential assistant for one of the largest residence halls on campus.