Livingstone News Service

SALISBURY — Laverne Macon-Jamison, assistant director of institutional effectiveness and research at Livingstone College, was recently installed as a member-at-large of the Southern Association for Institutional Research.

She was elected by her peers from colleges and universities of the 13 Southern states and was installed to serve a two-year term during its annual conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

The association is dedicated to the advancement of research that leads to improved understanding, planning and operation of institutions of postsecondary education. It provides a forum for the dissemination of information and exchange of ideas on problems of common interest in institutional research and promotes the professional development of individuals in the field.

Many members of the association serve on the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ visiting teams and are readers of the association’s reports.

Macon-Jamison said she has observed many changes in institutional research over the years, having been involved on the national level with the Association for Institutional Research, the regional level with SAIR, and the state level with the North Carolina Association for Institutional Research.

“Technology has changed at an extremely rapid pace, making many of the institutional research tasks easier, less time-consuming and efficient in the ability to gather data and organize and present the findings,” she said.

Macon-Jamison’s previous affiliations with institutional research include serving as a proposal reader for SAIR’s annual conference; member of the 2014 nominating committee for SAIR; chairwoman of the local arrangement committee for its 2016 annual conference in Charlotte; and member of the NCAIR executive board for six years, a two-term elected NCAIR treasurer, and a NCAIR program chairwoman and president-elect, president (2014-15) and chairwoman of the 2015 nominating committee.

At Livingstone, Macon-Jamison serves as the focal point for institutional research-related issues to include reporting to the federal and state government and data analyses to support decision making at various levels.

Her career spans more than 33 years in higher education with 13 years in institutional research. She has previously worked as an adjunct instructor of business, director of records and registrar, co-director of a census information center and research specialist.

She has also served in key roles on several institutional leadership teams for the association and for the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Having received a bachelor of science in business administration from Barber-Scotia College, Macon-Jamison earned a master’s degree in business administration from Strayer University. She has pursued further studies in management at Walden University.

“This is truly an honor for Laverne Macon-Jamison as well as for Livingstone College. Her election to this board is a testament to her passion and involvement in her field,” said Livingstone President Jimmy R. Jenkins Sr. “She will offer a diverse perspective and exchange of ideas that will benefit her work at Livingstone as well as other similar institutions.”