Dr. Jeff Salyer with his 2018 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year award, following a Homecoming breakfast where the honor was announced
Dr. Jeff Salyer was honored as the 2018 Departmental Alumnus of the Year for Lee University’s Department of Communication Arts during Homecoming festivities.
Dr. Salyer currently serves as the director of media and marketing and an assistant professor of communication at Lee.
“Jeff was an easy choice for our department’s alumnus of the year,” said Dr. Joel Kailing, chairperson of the Department of Communication Arts. “He began working in Lee’s Media Services while still a student here and has been essential to the university’s communication and media production efforts ever since.”
Originally from Clinton, Tn., Dr. Salyer graduated from Lee with a degree in telecommunications. He continued on to receive his doctorate and master’s from Regent University.
Dr. Salyer, in collaboration with students and faculty, has produced four short films that have been in film festivals across the world, winning Best Short Film four times. He also produced the independent feature film “Christmas in July,” which is scheduled to begin its festival run this winter. Most recently, Dr. Salyer was on the team of directors and producers of the Lee University Centennial documentary film, “Hundred Years Journey: The Lee University Story.”
“He has guided the university through the tricky challenge of transitioning to the digital age in communication, setting a high standard for excellence for Lee media production,” said Dr. Kailing. “He has also generously offered his expertise to our department as an invaluable part-time instructor for digital media and cinema courses. He is a shining example of someone who does everything well and manages, somehow, also to do it cheerfully.”
In his personal time, Dr. Salyer runs marathons and enjoys spending time with his wife, April, and their two children, Abigail and Brantley.