Asbury Hosts Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast

February 27, 2019

WILMORE, Ky.— Jessamine County business leaders visited Asbury University for a special Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Tuesday morning. View a photo gallery below! 

Hosted by the University, the annual breakfast brings Jessamine County professionals together for a time of fellowship and networking. It also provides a space for community members to learn about what’s currently happening at Asbury.

April Colyer, who serves as the Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce president and director of public relations at RJ Corman Railroad Group, gave opening remarks during the Feb. 26 event.

“Asbury’s continued willingness to host our community and lead projects that give back to our county has played a vital role in growing our special town for many years,” Colyer said. “Having a prestigious university in our town with both undergraduate and master’s programs is a unique edge that our small town has that others do not. Asbury has continued to give back to this community to further develop and progress our community and enrich the lives of those that live here.”

During the breakfast, Asbury University President Sandra C. Gray introduced the University’s new Provost Timothy Wooster to Jessamine County Chamber members for the first time.

“Asbury has a long history of providing a holistic, transformational experience for our students where they are prepared well for the professions, but also for a life of Christian service and servant leadership,” Wooster said, explaining what initially drew him to the University.

At this year’s breakfast, Gray also shared in detail about the work of the Joe Pitts Center for Public Policy.

“Asbury began our political science program several years ago,” Gray said. “We’ve really had a goal that our students would be civic-minded, aware of public issues and find themselves seeking opportunities to serve. We’ve been moving the political science program forward. About a year ago, we were actually able to move it huge notches ahead with the introduction of the Joe Pitts Center for Public Policy.”

Since its grand opening in March 2018, the Center has hosted public officials on the state, national and international levels for a variety of events on policy and public service. Past events have included a conference on the opioid crisis, oral arguments with the Kentucky Court of Appeals, an Ambassadors Roundtable and more. Gray also spoke about the Washington Federal Seminar, a travel course led by Dr. Steve Clements, chair of the Social Science & History Department, each winter.  

Meg Hull ’20 was among the students who went on this year’s Washington Federal Seminar. Hull spoke briefly about what she learned about public policy and the political realm during the January trip.

Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mark Whitworth also shared a short update on the University’s athletic programming, inviting guests to attend the #TeamAU Golf Experience, a unique golf outing put on by Asbury’s athletic teams at the end of April.

Learn more about Asbury University’s Joe Pitts Center for Public Policy.