Greeley Myers '93

Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving

Greeley Myers was in a great mood for a Tuesday in early April. Not only was he going to work at his favorite school, but his second favorite school had won the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship the night before. Myers received his bachelor's degree from McMurry in 1993 before earning a Masters of Theology degree from Duke University in 1995.

Myers proudly wears maroon and white for McMurry, but this day he also had a Duke University hat on his desk in the Administration Building after the Blue Devils had won the big game the night before. The display in his office also symbolizes the two hats that he wears for McMurry in his position as the Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving.

"It's all about the relationships," Myers said. He has seen McMurry take big strides in recent years to strengthen its relationships with alumni and donors. "It has been a team effort, especially the last several years, to reach out to our alumni with personal visits and better communication," Myers said.

Myers says examples of better communication ranges from school publications, use of the internet, and local TV and radio. Myers points out the better quality of school publications, such as the “Chieftain," has been part of the effort to notify alumni about university events and accomplishments. The improved appearance of the magazine has enhanced its ability to deliver the school's message beyond the campus.

"Social networking on the internet is amazing," Myers said of McMurry's efforts to use the internet to also connect with alumni as well as prospective students. The school utilizes Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube as additional channels to "spread the word."

Myers said another important tie for alumni to McMurry is athletics. He is glad to see the “e-media” efforts of Sports Information Director Kyle Robarts in keeping McMurry fans up-to-date with the latest sports scores and background information on athletes. "McMurry fans outside of the immediate Abilene area don't have to search the print in their newspapers the next morning to find out how our teams did," Myers said. "Wherever they are, our fans, alumni, and parents can follow the action on the internet as it happens, thanks to Kyle."

Another form of publicizing not only McMurry athletics, but also academics, was "The McMurry Coaches Show," which was carried on KTAB-TV in Abilene. Football was the main topic, of course, with new head coach Hal Mumme, but there was a special segment every week featuring other aspects of campus life. It was Mumme's suggestion to include the segment, not only so prospective student/athletes could learn more about the school, but for alumni to keep track of current activities.

Even with a presence on the internet and TV, McMurry doesn't forget one of the oldest forms of mass communication, the radio. Dr. Paul Fabrizio and Dr. Bill Libby of McMurry co-host a daily, one-hour phone-in talk show called "The Professors" every afternoon on KWKC/1340 in Abilene. It is one of the few locally produced radio talk shows in the market and very popular.

The overall goal is to build, or maybe in some cases restore, better relationships with McMurry on any platform that the school can use.

For their part, McMurry alumni are evidently noticing the efforts being made by the school to reach out to them. Myers said there has been an increase in alumni support and participation in recent years.

"I'm encouraged by what I've seen as our alumni are stepping up and willing to host events in their area," Myers said. Recent McMurry gatherings have been held in Boston, Austin, and the West Coast. "Our Alumni Board is more active. For example, some members have planned and carried out additional events in other metro areas like Dallas/Fort Worth."

Myers believes that part of his job is to understand people's ties to McMurry. He feels that he has a connection with the alumni who went to the school decades before he ever stepped onto the campus. "I love this place," Myers commented.

He was proud man on this particular Tuesday afternoon. For the moment it was the triumph the night before by the Duke Blue Devils, but his main focus was on his role for the bigger picture at McMurry. "It's not a job to come here every morning. I don't go to work; I get to go to McMurry to work."