Sally M. Horner, executive liaison to the president at Coastal Carolina University, received a distinguished service award from the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers (SACUBO) at its annual meeting in Oklahoma City on April 21. The SACUBO organization derives its membership from finance officers over a 15-state region.

Horner earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has more than 35 years of experience in higher education, in both private and public institutions, and in such diverse roles as teaching faculty, chief academic officer, acting president, chief financial officer and chief planning officer. Since coming to Coastal in 1984, she has served as vice chancellor for planning and fiscal affairs, interim provost and executive vice president.

She has extensive experience with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), including six years as an elected commissioner on the SACS Commission on Colleges, a 77-member commission from 900 institutions and 11 states. She has made numerous presentations on strategic planning and budgeting at SACS annual meetings and served on more than 20 visitation teams as a financial analyst and specialist. She received an award for meritorious service from SACS in 2001.

"I was honored by the award," said Horner. "It is of very special significance when this type of recognition comes from one's peers in the finance area, and is a nice way to begin my full retirement."