Catherine Bost
Associate Director of College Relations
Director of Publications

{P} 434.381.6329
{E} cbost@sbc.edu

Catherine began working at Sweet Briar in September 1987 and was responsible for media relations and publication coordination. With the advent of desktop publishing in 1988, her duties segued into that of full-time designer. Now director of publications, she is responsible for safeguarding the institutional identity of the College, and the concept, design and coordination of most of the College's publications. As associate director of College Relations she is responsible for the administrative functions of the office.

Before coming to Sweet Briar, Catherine was a public relations promotions assistant in the marketing department of Columbia Newspapers Inc. in South Carolina. A 1980 graduate of the University of South Carolina with a major in journalism, she also worked for Belk of Columbia as an advertising assistant and layout artist.

A member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Catherine is the president of the Amherst County High School PTO, chairman of the Gifted Advisory Committee for Amherst County Public Schools, and a member of the Principal's Parents Council.

In her spare time, Catherine likes to spend time with her family, read and paint pottery.

Karen Davies
Graphic Design Assistant

{P} 434.381.6706
{E} kdavies@sbc.edu

Karen Davies began working at Sweet Briar in 2007. As a graphic design assistant, she works on many of the campus newsletters, brochures and other promotional materials.

In 1980, she was awarded a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Since then, she has worked as a designer in the student publications office at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and as graphics manager for a public relations firm in Raleigh, N.C.

She also owned a graphic design firm in Durham, N.C., which had pharmaceutical, research and medical firms as its primary clients.

Karen is active with her church youth group. She also volunteered for many years with the Girl Scouts, Meals on Wheels and Virginia Baptist Hospital. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking local trails and supporting her three children's volleyball, lacrosse and football programs.

Jackie Dawson
Coordinator for College Information

{P} 434.381.6328
{E} jdawson@sbc.edu

Jackie Dawson, coordinator for college information, began working at Sweet Briar in July 1984. She has a bachelor's degree from Averett College. Her current duties include organizing the Girl Scout Saturday Programs, maintaining the featured events calendar and assisting users with events scheduling.

Jackie began her career at Sweet Briar working in the buildings and grounds department. She was later promoted to director of housekeeping and grounds.

After leaving the physical plant, Jackie worked as coordinator of college housing for co-curricular life, and then was named director of college events.

Before joining the college relations staff, she also was assistant to the director of academic advising in the dean's office. In 2002, Jackie received the Shirley P. Reid Excellence in Service Award.

In her spare time Jackie enjoys playing with her three grandchildren, gardening and dancing.

John Gauger
Web Developer

{P} 434.381.6327
{E} jgauger@sbc.edu

Elisabeth Mahler
Web Designer

{P} 434.381.6570
{E} emahler@sbc.edu

A 1998 graduate of Sweet Briar with a BA in economics and a minor in computer science, Elisabeth was SBC's campus technology lab coordinator from 2000 to 2006.

She previously worked as a Web design consultant, webmaster, and as a master control operator for WSET in Lynchburg.

Elisabeth's duties include designing and maintaining the College Web site, fielding general Web-related questions, and consulting with departments on how to best organize and design their sites.

In addition to gardening, Elisabeth enjoys renovating her 80-90 year-old house and traveling with her husband, Aaron, Sweet Briar's director of network services.

Jennifer McManamay
Assistant Director of Media Relations
Staff Writer

{P} 434.381.6330
{E} jmcmanamay@sbc.edu

Jennifer McManamay is the assistant director of media relations and a staff writer. Before joining the College Relations staff, she was the food and community editor at The Daily Progress in Charlottesville. A graduate of Radford University and the College of William and Mary, she also worked in the nuclear industry at B&W Nuclear Technologies, now Areva, in Lynchburg, and at Duke Power Co. in North Carolina. She left Duke to manage the office at the Carolina Raptor Center, a nonprofit rehabilitation center for birds of prey and environmental education in Charlotte, before moving with her husband, Ron, home to Virginia.

In addition to covering and promoting the College, its events, initiatives and the accomplishments of members of the campus community, Jennifer is the initial point of contact for media inquiries. Contact her for help identifying faculty and staff experts and to arrange interviews, or to report news and information of interest to the students, staff and faculty of the Sweet Briar community.

Suzanne Ramsey
Assistant Director of Internal Communications
Staff Writer

{P} 434.381.6388
{E} sramsey@sbc.edu

Suzanne Ramsey is the assistant director of internal communications and a staff writer and editor of the faculty/staff newsletter. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. Her path to Sweet Briar includes everything from newspaper reporting and criminal investigations to office management and low-budget filmmaking.

As a reporter for the Berkeley Independent in Moncks Corner, S.C., she received a South Carolina Press Association award for "Best Feature Story." After leaving the newspaper, she spent nearly seven years as a law enforcement officer, working as a juvenile and sex crimes investigator, narcotics detective, school resource officer and probation officer.

For six years, Suzanne was office manager for a shock and vibration testing facility located in Rustburg, Va. During that time she continued writing on a freelance basis. She also wrote two screenplays, one of which — a short, horror-comedy film called "Spook Baby" — she produced and directed in 2004.

In her spare time, Suzanne likes to exercise, watch (and make) movies, travel, spend time with family and work on various writing projects. She also is the club advisor/coach for Sweet Briar's cross country club.

Linda Shank
Vice President for Communications and Strategic Initiatives
Director of the Business Management Program
Professor of Business Management

{P} 434.381.6210
{E} lshank@sbc.edu