Dr. Constance Lightner to Join USA Climbing Board of Directors
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USA Climbing is pleased to announce that Dr. Constance “Connie” Lightner will become a member of the USA Climbing Board of Directors, effective September 1, 2020.
“As a university professor and faculty department chair with expertise in statistics, management science, operations management, and quality control, Dr. Lightner brings business management and leadership skills to our Board, and as a parent of an elite climber she also brings a deep knowledge of our sport,” said Patti Rube, president of USA Climbing’s board of directors. “We are thrilled to welcome Connie and look forward to her continuing contributions for years to come.”
Connie Lightner is an associate professor and chair of the Department of Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship at Fayetteville State University (FSU). She has received numerous teaching awards (university and statewide) and published her research in many reputable journals during her time at FSU. She earned her B.S. from Norfolk State University in Applied Mathematics (1994), and her MSc (1997) and Ph.D. (2000) from North Carolina State University in Operations Research-Industrial Engineering.
As the mother of an elite climber, Kai Lightner, Connie Lightner played an instrumental role in guiding her son’s success domestically and internationally; she possesses a unique understanding of the opportunities and challenges presented to climbing families. Prior to joining the board, Lightner served on the USA Climbing Strategic Planning Working Group, which developed the 2020-2024 Strategic Plan, and is a member of the USA Climbing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force.
“USA Climbing provided opportunities for my son to develop valuable skills that extend far beyond the sport of climbing”, said Dr. Lightner. “While I have assisted the organization in various capacities in the past, I’m excited to join the board and take a more active role in helping our youth continue to develop and flourish.”
Dr. Lightner was selected by USA Climbing’s Nominating and Governance Committee and will fill the vacancy that will be created on August 31, 2020 when Patti Rube reaches the conclusion of her final term. USA Climbing adopted term limits for Board members in 2009 and is committed to these and other sound governance practices. The full description of current members of the USA Climbing Board of Directors can be found here.
About USA Climbing
USA Climbing is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of competition climbing. The organization manages the disciplines of Bouldering, Speed and Sport climbing as well as the Collegiate and Adaptive series. USA Climbing, a member federation of the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), also hosts IFSC World Cup events and sends athletes to participate in the IFSC’s World Cup circuit and the World Climbing and Paraclimbing Championships.