Craig Swinyard has been selected as the director of alumni relations, according to Laurie Kelley, VP for university relations.
Swinyard has a long association with the University which began in 1994, his freshman year. He graduated from the University with a bachelor of arts in mathematics in 1998. As a student, he was a member of the Honors Program and lived in Villa Maria all four years, serving as a resident assistant his junior and senior years.
After graduation he worked in the Office of Residence Life as an assistant hall director in Corrado Hall from 1999-2001. Swinyard earned a master of science in teaching mathematics in 2002 and his Ph.D. in mathematics education in 2008, both from Portland State University. He joined the University’s mathematics faculty as an assistant professor in 2008. In 2014, he received tenure and was promoted to associate professor. He and his wife Shoshawna reside in the University Park neighborhood and are the proud parents of a daughter, Mia.
Swinyard has been a leader in developing networking and engagement opportunities for Villa Maria alumni. Earlier this year, he and other University leaders brought back the tradition now known as Anchors Away (formerly Blowout on The Bluff), bringing together more than 1,400 students, faculty, and staff.
Because of his current academic responsibilities, Swinyard will continue to teach students through the end of the fall semester. He will begin working in the alumni office on a part-time basis, moving to full-time when the spring semester commences.
For more information contact alumni relations at 7328 or alumni@up.edu.