Shanna Relford of Estill Springs has filled a new position at The University of Tennessee Space Institute as coordinator of public relations, alumni affairs, and development.

“We’re glad to welcome Relford to UTSI,” said Donald C. Daniel, UT associate vice president and chief operating officer of the Space Institute. “I am confident that she will do an outstanding job working with the media, our alumni, and our many supporters.”

“I’m excited about joining the staff here at such a unique time in the Space Institute’s history,” said Relford. “There is so much going on here that our community needs to know about, and I’m anxious to get out the good news.”

A former staff writer and an editor with The Herald Chronicle in Winchester, Relford also has experience in technical writing and marketing. She grew up in Estill Springs, but has since lived and worked in Lynchburg, Winchester, and Knoxville, as well as Huntsville and Madison, Ala., and Tampa, Fla.

An honors graduate of Franklin County High School, Relford attended UT in Knoxville for one year before transferring to The University of Alabama in Huntsville where she completed her bachelor’s degree in 2000. She majored in English with Cognate Studies in Technical Writing. A 2006 graduate of Leadership Franklin County, Relford has recently been asked to sit on the Tourism Committee for the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. She lives in Estill Springs with her husband John and their 10-month-old son Charlie and their “beloved beagle, Ginger.”

“Weldon Payne of Manchester, retired UTSI public relations director who returned in February 2004 as part-time writer of news releases, has chosen to retire again,” Daniel said. “We wish him well as he pursues his own writing and painting interests. He is an exceptional person who has provided exceptional service to our university, our area, and the state of Tennessee.”

Shanna Relford

Donald C. Daniel welcomes Shanna Relford to UTSI.

UTSI Photos by Lisa Lehman