Athens State Promotes From Within To Fill Dean Position

For Further Information

Guy McClure

256-233-8296

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release
November 19, 2013
www.athens.edu



Athens State Promotes From Within To Fill Dean Position  
ATHENS, Ala. – Athens State University has named Dr. Kimberly LaFevor as Dean of the College of Business. LaFevor, who currently serves as Associate Professor of Management and Department Chair at Athens State University, will begin her role as Dean with the upcoming spring semester. LaFevor will replace the retiring Dr. Linda Shonesy who has been Dean since 2005.

“It is a good day when we can celebrate an internal achievement such as this,” states Athens State President Bob Glenn. “After an intensive national search Dr. LaFevor’s commitment to the College of Business and her private sector experience made her the clear choice for this important position.”

Dr. LaFevor has been employed as a full-time professor at Athens State University since 2005, where

she also serves as Department Chair for both the Management and Human Resources Management programs. She has taught collegiately for 22 years at both the undergraduate and graduate level. These experiences have included teaching various management courses with a specialization in advanced human resource practices, labor relations and employment law, as well as course development at both an undergraduate and graduate level. She served in 2008-2009, 2010-2011, and re-elected again for 2013-2014 as President for the Tennessee Employment Relations Research Association (TERRA), the state labor-management forum for the national organization, Labor Employment Relations Association (LERA) in which she is also a member of the national Work and Labor Relations interest section. She actively promotes research and advancement of labor relations issues and has been a member of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) for over 20 years, as well as acquired HR certification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) in 1991 which she maintains. She serves as the chapter sponsor of the Athens State Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) student organization and the Phi Theta Kappa Alumni Association International Honor Society student organization, both nationally recognized award winning student chapters. Most recently, Dr. LaFevor was recently named to the 2014 Alabama SHRM State Council as the College Relations Director.
Prior to her current responsibilities she had a 21-year career with General Motors of which she spent the greatest portion of her tenure in progressively responsible HR positions. Prior to her retirement from the company, her most recent assignment was Plant Personnel Director at Saturn-GM Manufacturing in Spring Hill, Tennessee. There she managed human resources activities for Saturn Service Parts Operations including recruiting, selection, compensation administration, team member development and performance improvement, leadership development and labor relations activities, such as grievance resolution, contract negotiations and interpretation. During this time, she also served in collective bargaining agreement negotiations between GM Spring Hill Manufacturing and the United Auto Workers (UAW). In prior years with General Motors, Dr. LaFevor has held numerous human resource positions. These include Training and Development Team Leader, People Systems Crew Leader, Training and Development Consultant, Organizational Development Consultant, and Leadership Development Advisor. In these capacities, she has been involved with labor relations, facilitated training and development initiatives, as well as provided coaching and counseling services to leaders and team members.
Athens State’s College of Business is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (ACBSP) and its curriculum complies with the recommended Common Professional Component. Instruction offered by the College of Business is designed to prepare students to become competent practitioners and effective professionals in the areas of accounting and management.
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