John A. Shiffert, Jr., has been director of University Relations at Clayton State since August 1995.

Prior to coming to Clayton State, he spent 20 years in the public relations, journalism and association management fields in Philadelphia, working for organizations as diverse as Multiservice Management Company, Drexel University, the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, the largest magazine in the printing industry (Printing Impressions), several newspapers and Shaeffer & Associates Public Relations, where he was vice president.

Lauren Graves has worked in Clayton State’s Office of University Relations since Jan. 2002. Originally a part-time employee, Lauren began her full-time service in Feb. 2005 upon graduating Magna Cum Laude from Clayton State’s Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Media Studies program in Dec. 2004.

Lauren serves the Clayton State community by designing posters, brochures, bookmarks, display boards, booklets and other printed publications. She is the graphic designer and editor of Clayton State’s bi-annual magazine, “The Laker Connection” and is responsible for the layout and graphic design of the University’s bi-monthly newsletter, “Campus Review.”

In addition to design tasks, Lauren also writes press releases and features, edits documents, maintains the office’s newspaper clippings, produces quarterly clipping reports and assists other campus departments in writing and editing materials.

Erin Fender began working in the Office of University Relations at Clayton State in Nov. 2007. She is responsible for writing various press releases and features, as well as taking photographs. Recently, Erin provided photography and features for “The Laker Connection” Vol. 3 No. 1.

Erin is a 2005 graduate of Clayton State’s Communication & Media Studies baccalaureate degree program. As a student, her senior year she worked as an intern for the University Relations office. As an intern, she produced articles for Vol. 1 No. 1 of “The Laker Connection."