FAYETTE, Mo. - A key Athletic Department staff position has been filled by Central Methodist University with the hiring of Kelcey Zutavern of Dunning, Neb., as sports information director, announced Kenneth Oliver, CMU vice president for campus life and athletic director.

Zutavern, who began her SID duties with CMU July 1, reports directly to Oliver and is responsible for directing the university's sports information program, including preparation and distribution of all athletic news and records to the media, writing press releases, production of media guides, game programs and other publications.

Zutavern is also responsible for maintaining the Athletic Department web-site, reporting statistics to the HAAC and the NAIA. The university has 14 (seven each for men and women) intercollegiate athletics programs and will be adding men's and women's golf in the fall of 2009.

Zutavern graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in art from Doane College, Crete, Neb., in May. While attending college, she was a member of the college's intercollegiate track and field team and was recognized several times as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete. She also worked with the Doane College Sports Information Department, served as a communications intern with USA Track & Field during the USA Outdoor Nationals in Indianapolis and as a media contact at the USA Youth Outdoor Nationals in Lisle, Ill.

Zutavern is single and lives in Fayette.

Founded in 1854, Central Methodist is the only United Methodist Church-related university in Missouri, and welcomes qualified men and women of all faiths and from diverse backgrounds. Its wooded, historic campus hosts a faculty of teachers, mentors, and scholars dedicated to providing extraordinary attention to the individual learner. With offerings ranging from high-school dual credit to graduate studies and a total enrollment of more than 3,000, its liberal arts and pre-professional programs are centered on a character core that has twice brought Central Methodist national recognition for its leadership in character education.  In recent years the University has attracted significant challenge grants from the national Kresge and Mabee Foundations to help build a $15 million Student and Community Center on the academic quadrangle and to fund $5 million in major upgrades to its athletic facilities.