HICKORY, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne University Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the appointment of Amanda Queen as its new Director of Corporate Partnerships.

In her role, Queen will oversee all aspects of LR's corporate partnership and sponsorship program including fulfillment, partner activation, advertising execution and relationship management. She will also assume a leadership role with sponsorship cultivation, sales and revenue-generation strategies.

Queen brings more than 25 years of professional experience spanning higher education, business development, executive coaching and consulting, hospitality, entrepreneurship, sales and marketing, and organizational leadership.

"We are elated that Amanda will be joining the LR athletics family," said Vice President for Athletics Daron Montgomery. "She brings a unique set of experience to LR and will be an asset to our athletic department. Amanda's deep ties throughout Hickory and the greater Catawba Valley will be of tremendous benefit as we further strengthen our corporate partnership program."

Queen served six years with the Executive Leadership Institute at Queens University of Charlotte's McColl School of Business, where she managed key relationships for its revenue-generating executive education enterprise and worked with corporate, nonprofit, public-sector and university partners. At Queens, she also worked to create new avenues for athletic sponsorships, philanthropy and institution-wide collaboration.

Most recently, Queen built an executive coaching and consulting practice supporting Fortune 50 executives, local business owners, entrepreneurs, and multiple other organizational leaders in areas such as talent development and change management.

"Throughout my career, I have developed a deep appreciation for higher education's role in strengthening communities and the importance of articulating an institution's value in ways that connect business priorities with opportunities to support students and create shared value," Queen said. "I am excited to bring that perspective to Lenoir-Rhyne and look forward to building meaningful partnerships throughout the Hickory community and beyond."

Queen earned her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a master's degree in organization development from Queens University of Charlotte, where she also earned an executive coaching certification.

Queen resides in Hickory with her husband, Brenton Queen, and their son, Briggs Holt (14). She also has two adult daughters, Gabby Queen (21), and Isabella Queen (20).

Queen's appointment comes as Lenoir-Rhyne Athletics continues to expand its corporate partnership efforts and strengthen relationships with businesses and organizations throughout Hickory and the Unifour region.