About the Columbia State Community College Foundation

The Columbia State Community College Foundation’s mission is to support and partner with Columbia State to positively impact our communities and student success through the maintenance and enhancement of resources through excellence in relationship building, fundraising and investment management. Foundation management is under the direction of Bethany Lay, Executive for Advancement for Columbia State. Advancement also includes annual giving, alumni relations, community events and grants management.
In addition, for more than a decade the Foundation has partnered with Columbia State Community College, First Farmers Bank and other sponsors and patrons have successfully brought local and world-renowned artists to perform on the Cherry Theater stage as part of the Performance Series. The Foundation also supports the mission of the Pryor Art Gallery, located on the CSCC campus in Columbia, which strives to a first-class artistic venue where appreciation for all forms of visual art is enhanced through presentation of stimulating exhibits and programs that inspire, educate, enlighten, challenge and entertain.


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Bethany Lay is Executive Director of the Columbia State Foundation

Bethany Lay, Executive for Advancement
Bethany Lay came to Columbia State in 2010 from the Wayne County Board of Education, where she served as Supervisor of Adult Education since 2001. In addition to her responsibilities as Executive Director of the CSCCF, she is responsible for leadership and management of the division of the college dedicated to resources and gifts development as Executive for Advancement. She also handles alumni development, community and government relations, grants management and special projects.
Lay received an Education Specialist in Administration and Supervision degree from Tennessee State University in 2003, a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction degree from Concordia University Chicago in 1994 and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Freed-Hardeman College in 1988. Prior to her time as Supervisor of Adult Education, she worked as an Adult Education Teacher for the Wayne County Board of Education, and as a K-8 System Teacher.
She has been a member of the Columbia State Foundation Board since 2007, and a member of the Wayne County Three-Star Advisory Committee. She has served on Leadership Wayne County, the Wayne County 21st Century Community Learning Center Advisory Board and on the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence Board of Examiners. Lay has also been a part of the State Office of Adult Education Curriculum Framework and Management/Instruction Team, Chair of the Tennessee Adult Education Advisory Board, the Academy for Instructional Excellence, the Tennessee Education Association and the Tennessee Association for Adult and Community Education. She serves on the State Workforce Development Board and is a current participant in Leadership Maury.