SPRING 2008

‘A’ Team : Advancement/Alumni staff gets new leadership

After graduating from Shorter, Ken received a master’s degree in philanthropy and development from St. Mary’s University. He completed the executive leadership course at Vanderbilt University’s Graduate School of Business and holds a mini-MBA for Non-Profit Managers from the University of St. Thomas. He is a certified fundraising executive and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

For Ken, the return to Shorter College marked a significant milestone. “For many, many years, I had looked for the opportunity to come back to Shorter,” he shared during a recent interview. “This is a wonderful example of divine timing. I was at the perfect point in my life professionally and personally to come back.” That return included relocating from San Antonio, Texas, with his wife, Gretchen, and their four children: Savannah, 16; Ben, 11; Tim, 5; and Shea, 3.

For Ken, having a job raising support for his alma mater is especially gratifying. “Shorter did so much for me, I could work here a lifetime and never give back as much as I was given: the friendships, the opportunities and the education,” he said.

Staffers Stephanie Graves ('07), Ken Fincher ('84), Suzanne Widener Scott ('74) and
Chip Mitchell ('02) are committed to being "responsive to the needs of alumni".

Chief among the tasks he faces are increasing financial support for the institution and strengthening alumni involvement with the college. “The advancement staff is eager to fulfill the elements of the strategic plan that relate to having sound financial footing. A lot of those plans have significant funding needs; we want to make that vision a reality because it is the right thing to do for students and for Shorter.”

As the college’s reputation increases, Ken pointed out, the benefit to alumni is great. “To have the school recognized nationally in rankings such as those done by U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review elevates the value of our diplomas. As alumni, we can help maintain the value of our education by making sure we have good housing, scholarships and the best and brightest on campus both teaching and learning.”

In addition to fundraising, Ken is overseeing the alumni relations activities. Following the departure of alumni director Carol Williams Kirby (’68), Ken reorganized the staff to better meet the needs of alumni. Chip Mitchell (’02) now serves as alumni services director, manages alumni and donor records and oversees the Annual Fund. Suzanne Widener Scott (’74) works with alumni who have celebrated their 50 th reunion as well as the Friends of the Arts groups and the local business community. Stephanie Graves (’07) focuses on grant writing and special events planning. Working with them are executive assistant Melody Blackiston, donor relations specialist Carol Jones, athletics fundraiser Greg Owens and data integrity manager Wanda Taylor.

“With our focus on working as a team, you don’t get one person, you get all of us,” Ken said. “We want people to know that whomever they talk to in Shorter’s alumni office will take care of them whether they were in the traditional program or in the Professional Studies or master’s programs.”