Muskingum News

Jennifer Lyle began her service as Mayor of the Village of New Concord on January 1, 2020. She is the first female Mayor since the Village was established nearly 200 years ago.

“I grew up in New Concord and left to attend college and graduate school. I spent many years working in New York City in the artist management and marketing industries.”

“When I returned home to be closer to my family, I worked for Muskingum University’s Institutional Advancement Office and became involved in local grassroots community development projects. That led to my serving on Village Council since 2014, and then I decided to run for Mayor so that I could bring a broader strategic perspective to community development. One of my top goals is to make it easier for more restaurants to move into the Village.”

“With COVID-19, my focus shifted to more immediate needs. The Village’s city hall has continued to operate throughout the pandemic to provide essential services including police, fire, EMS, and public works for our residents.”

“I have been focused on seeking the state and federal economic assistance that may be available to us, while working to develop some fresh ideas that may help lessen the revenue losses we are experiencing.”

“Our partnership with Muskingum University is so important to the Village. It is truly an economic engine and helps shape the quality of life here. The students, faculty, and staff are always ready to serve the community, which helps our residents in a variety of ways. We are very fortunate to have such a collaborative relationship and open communication with the University.”  

Mayor Lyle earned a Bachelor of Arts in music performance from Hampshire College (Amherst, Massachusetts) and an MBA from Columbia University (New York, NY). She lives in New Concord with her husband, former longtime Muskingum Head Basketball Coach and professor of Physical Education Jim Burson ’63.