Myra Greene Shaffer, executive director of Greenwood-Lander Performing Arts, has accepted the position of director of Alumni Affairs at Lander University, her alma mater, beginning in December.
She will succeed longtime Alumni Affairs director Steve Grogan who, in July, was appointed assistant athletic director and manager of the Jeff May Complex, Lander's new recreation, wellness and sports center under construction on Montague Avenue.
Shaffer, who graduated from Lander in 1978, became GLPA director in August of 2008 after a 14-year association with the Greenwood Community Theatre. She is credited with bringing some of the world's most talented musicians, dancers, singers and actors to the stage of Lander's Josephine B. Abney Cultural Center Auditorium.
She also supervises GLPA's outreach program for children from more than 30 schools in five local school districts. This school year nearly 6,700 youngsters from elementary and middle schools will have attended 11 outreach performances at Lander and, for many, their first experience with the live theatre.
In addition to her new position, Shaffer will continue to teach theatre courses as a member of Lander's adjunct faculty.
Ralph Patterson, Lander's vice president for University Advancement, who oversees Alumni Affairs, said, "Myra is a perfect fit for the alumni director's job. She has been active in all phases of the Lander Alumni Association and was recognized for her work when she received the association's Distinguished Alumni Award." Patterson added, "She has tremendous experience identifying and cultivating donors through her work with the alumni association and GLPA. She is well-known in the community and has a terrific work ethic."
The university has begun advertising the GLPA executive director's position. In the meantime, Shaffer has agreed to work with her successor to ensure a smooth transition.