July 7, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University athletics department recently announced two staff changes. Vaughan Lyons has been named the director of the Samford Bulldog Club, and Lee Williams will be the department's new director of game operations and ticket manager.

Lyons will be responsible for establishing, developing and achieving fundraising goals by working with the athletics department administration, head coaches and the athletic ticket office on the implementation of a comprehensive program for annual giving, communication and special events for Samford's 17 varsity teams.

Prior to her new appointment, Lyons worked for three years as the director of game operations and ticket manager for Samford. She was responsible for all 17 sports' game-day operations, including ticket sales and events. She also managed the department's student workers.

Lyons had served as the department's office coordinator from June 2005 until being promoted to the position of director of game operations and ticket manager. As office coordinator, she coordinated all ticket sales and staffing for home events. From December 2004 to June 2005, she was the office assistant for the department.

Lyons worked in the department as a student from 2000 until she graduated in 2004. She assisted with office duties and supervision of student workers. At home events, she sold tickets, managed the will-call window and assisted with game-day operations. She was named the 2004 Student Worker of the Year for Samford University.

Lyons, a native of Elba, Ala., graduated from Samford in 2004 with a degree in human development. She is married to fellow Samford alumni and current assistant director of athletics Grant Lyons.

Williams, who replaces Lyons as director of game operations and ticket manager, is responsible for game-day operations for all 17 sports, including ticket sales and events. She also manages the department's student workers. In addition to her game-day operations duties, Williams will also assist in the athletic departments marketing efforts.

Williams comes to Samford from the Alabama Golf Association (AGA) where she served as the USGA P.J. Boatwright Intern from January, 2007 until being hired at Samford. At the AGA, she assisted with the planning and administering of the association's golf championships.

Prior to her stint with the AGA, Williams worked at Samford as the assistant to the game operations manager from August 2006 to February 2007. In her time at Samford, Williams helped on game days with pre-game setup, ticket sales, merchandise sales and supervising student workers.

Williams, a 2005 Samford graduate, also served as an intern to Senator Jeff Sessions in January 2005. In addition to giving guided tours of the Capitol Building, she also assisted the Deputy Press Secretary with media affairs and clerical work.

While in school at Samford, Williams worked as a Spanish Laboratory Instructor in the Spanish Language Department in 2004.

Williams earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and Spanish from Samford in 2006.