Lou Anne Flanders-Stec has been appointed Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Guilford College effective July 1.

In this role, Lou Anne will be working on innovation and entrepreneurial development, strategic plan implementation and collaborations with Finance & Administration on institutional financial strategy, Advancement & Alumni Relations on new advancement initiatives and the Provost on relevant areas of academic planning.

“I’m excited to welcome Lou Anne to this leadership role at a critical time for expanding innovation, examining organizational and financial matters and promoting entrepreneurship at the College,” says President Kyle Farmbry. “She has made a very positive contribution already, and she brings experience and skills to important work that is in progress at Guilford.”

Lou Anne joined Guilford last summer on an interim appointment as Senior Executive Director of Innovation and Engagement . 

In the last 12 months, she has been instrumental in a number of key initiatives including task groups on cost-savings, revenue-generation and the future of the Bryan Series lecture program, as well as grant submissions, including an award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for their Build to Scale Ignite grant. 

Currently, she’s working with a team of faculty and staff on a process designed to ensure long-term organizational stability for the College and continues to develop Guilford Ventures. 

In her career, Lou Anne has worked extensively with start-ups, angel/venture fund management and educating entrepreneurs and university and college students, and her skills and experiences intersect with key components of Envisioning Guilford College 2027 , the new strategic plan.

Prior to arriving at Guilford, in a career that has included many leadership positions, she was Executive Vice President at the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce with oversight for the Launch Greensboro program from 2016-23.

“We are fortunate to have Lou Anne working with us at a time when innovation, entrepreneurship, engagement and revenue generation are so critical to positioning Guilford for success well into the future,” Kyle says.