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Alumni & Supporters:
Church & Community Relations
Letter from the Director
Chowan University Welcomes Lou Ann Gilliam as
Director of Church and Community Relations
With 15 years of experience in relations and outreach work through educational institutions and non-profits in America and overseas, Lou Ann Gilliam is a welcome addition to Chowan University as the new Director of Church and Community Relations.
“Lou Ann brings a wealth of experience to the Church and Community Relations position,” explained Vice President for Development John Tayloe. “Having known her professionally for a long time, I am convinced she will readily become a valued member of the Chowan community. We are pleased to offer her this great opportunity to make a difference at Chowan.”
After graduating with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Religious Education and while working towards her Master of Divinity, Gilliam gained valuable insights into higher educational institutions while working with Student Activities and in the Admissions Office and later as Director of Alumni Relations for Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC.
Lou Ann is married to one of Chowan’s newest religion faculty member, Dr. Trey Gilliam. They have one daughter, Matty Grace. In 2007, the Gilliam family traded small town life in Western North Carolina for an urban adventure in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Gilliams spent two and half years in Edinburgh while Trey pursued his PhD in Early Church History at the University of Edinburgh. During this time, Lou Ann worked as an administrator in the School of Life Sciences for Edinburgh Napier University where she honed her skills in travel and event coordination and improved her administrative abilities serving Deans, Faculty and Human Resources.
After Scotland, the Gilliams returned to America and made their home in Buckingham, VA where Trey served as Pastor to Mulberry Grove
Baptist Church and Lou Ann worked with the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity. As the Community Outreach and Communication Manager, she greatly increased Habitat’s reach through major social media efforts like Facebook, Twitter and mass email newsletters. While working with Habitat, Gilliam organized volunteers including teams from two local universities and church teams from throughout the area, as well as promoting the efforts through news outlets.Lou Ann has an intricate knowledge of church life having grown up at Ranlo Baptist Church in Gastonia, NC where her parents Bud and Jane Hughes are active members. While in college, Gilliam was a Young Life Leader and in the summers worked at North Carolina Baptist Assembly. Additionally, Lou Ann brings the perspective of a minister’s spouse to her role as Trey has served churches in North Carolina, Virginia and Scotland.
“I am pleased to have this opportunity to serve Chowan,” Lou Ann added. “It is a privilege to help foster the relationship between Chowan University and the faith communities that support her.”
The Chowan community would like to extend a warm welcome to the Gilliam family and congratulate Lou Ann as the new Director of Church and Community Relations at Chowan University. In her new role, Lou Ann will help the Chowan community keep Faith in your future.
