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Meet the Office of Institutional Advancement

 

   
Christopher Dudley '94
Senior Vice President
for Development
(336) 841-4530
cdudley@highpoint.edu 

 

About Chris: Chris graduated from High Point University in 1994 with a degree in political science. His mother, wife and brother are also HPU alumni. Chris received his master’s degree in athletic administration from West Virginia University and worked in business development at Tar Heel Sports Marketing in Chapel Hill, NC.

In 1999, Chris returned to his alma mater to serve as the Director of Athletic Development and Marketing. From 2005-2015, he worked closely with President Nido R. Qubein on HPU’s plan for growth and transformation. As Vice President of Administration and Chief of Staff, Chris led many operational areas including community relations, construction, security, food service and university events.

Since 2015, Chris has served as the Senior Vice President for Development in the Office of Institutional Advancement. Together with an outstanding team of dedicated professionals, he is responsible for fundraising, alumni engagement, family engagement, advancement services and the department of athletics.

Rev. Dr. McKennon Shea
Vice President
for Development
(336) 841-9856
mckennon@highpoint.edu

 

About McKennon: McKennon serves as the Vice President for Development, with responsibilities for managing the major and planned giving programs at HPU. This includes leading the team of advancement officers, as well as the conversations related to donors’ bequest intentions or other planned giving vehicles. Prior to this position, he served as the Director of Major and Planned Giving for The Divinity School of Duke University in Durham, NC. He also previously served as Director of Admissions for Duke Divinity School and as a minister for Duke University Chapel. McKennon is an ordained minister in The United Methodist Church and completed his undergraduate studies at Hampden-Sydney College. He also received his Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School, and holds a doctorate in Higher Education Management from The University of Pennsylvania.

Connect with McKennon on LinkedIn

Rita S. Williams '92
Senior Director of

Advancement Services
(336) 841-9461
rwillia0@highpoint.edu

 

About Rita: Rita is the Senior Director of Advancement Services and a proud alumna of High Point University. In her Senior Director role, Rita provides management oversight and strategic planning for the development, implementation, maintenance and support of the University’s fundraising and alumni database, and prospective donor management systems. Her areas of responsibility include gift processing, reporting, data analytics, database integrity, information security, prospect management, and prospect research to support engagement and fundraising strategic initiatives.  Rita is a 1992 manga cum laude graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Computer Information Systems. She has worked in technology and data roles for more than 25 years, with a majority of that time in management roles. 

Connect with Rita on LinkedIn

Bradley G. Taylor '13, M.Ed.
Senior Director of Alumni Engagement

(336) 841-9548
btaylor@highpoint.edu

 

About Bradley: As Senior Director of Alumni Engagement, Bradley provides leadership for the HPU Alumni Association and connects with 32,000+ alumni around the globe. He is passionate about sharing the numerous engagement opportunities with HPU alumni to share their time, talent, network and investment. Bradley graduated from HPU in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and a minor in Physics and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics with a minor in Music. He was an actively involved student, both in the classroom and as leader around campus, including: Student Government, Honors Scholars Program, Residence Life and more. Bradley earned a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University. He is an Eagle Scout and dedicated adult volunteer in the Boy Scouts of America.

Connect with Bradley on LinkedIn

Darren Hill
Senior Director of
Major Gifts for Athletics

(336) 841-9555
dhill1@highpoint.edu 

 

 

About Darren: Darren joined High Point University’s Institutional Advancement Office in December 2016. In his role as the Senior Director of Major Gifts for Athletics, he is responsible for advancing the institutional priorities of the University and the Athletic Department through the cultivation and solicitation of major gifts from parents, alumni and friends of the University. Prior to his arrival at HPU, Darren served as the Director of Corporate Partnerships for the Winston-Salem Dash baseball team. He received his undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sport Science, concentration in Sport Administration, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Connect with Darren on LinkedIn

J. Bradley Purcell
Director of Gift Planning

(336) 841-9214
bpurcell@highpoint.edu

 

About Bradley: Bradley earned the A.B. degree from Duke University, 1983, and both the M.A. and the J.D. from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, 1988.  He practiced law in Greensboro, NC for five years early in his career. As the Director of Gift Planning, Bradley will build relationships with HPU alumni, parents and friends, to motivate legacy gifts to the University, while helping to strengthen certain major donor relationships as well.

Connect with Bradley on LinkedIn


 

Michael Amos

Advancement Officer
(336) 841-9271
mamos@highpoint.edu

 

About Michael: Michael joined the Office of Institutional Advancement at High Point University in March of 2016.  He was born and raised in High Point and has been thrilled to witness the magnificent improvements to the campus in recent years. He now serves as an Advancement Officer, which provides an opportunity for him to meet parents, alumni and friends, while encouraging their involvement with the University. Michael has an extensive business background mostly in sales and leadership roles. Throughout his career, Michael has had a passion for volunteering in his community, and has served as chairman of many civic organizations and fundraising campaigns.

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn


Amanda Arnold
Administrative Assistant
(336) 841-9731
aarnold1@highpoint.edu

 

About AmandaShe serves as the Administrative Assistant to the Vice President for Development. This position supports the Office of Institutional Advancement in executing effective strategies for the continued growth of the major gift and planned giving programs. Specifically, Amanda is responsible for meeting planning, drafting correspondences, office organization, and developing methods for efficient information gathering, among other duties.

Prior to this position, Amanda worked in the equine industry as both a Barn Manager and Veterinary Technician. She graduated from Averett University Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Equestrian Studies. 

Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn

 

Kate Berry
Director of Major Gifts

(336) 841-9353
kberry@highpoint.edu

 

About Kate: In her current role as Director of Major Gifts, she helps oversee our team of regionally based advancement officers who travel across the country building the HPU network and enhancing philanthropic support to the University. Kate initially joined the Office of Institutional Advancement as a senior advancement officer. In that role, she partnered with parents, alumni and community members to engage them with the university and facilitate philanthropic investments to strengthen HPU’s educational mission.

Prior to joining the team at HPU, she worked in development at other higher education institutions and in the nonprofit sector. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Spanish and has lived and worked abroad in Spain and Mexico.

Connect with Kate on LinkedIn

Jeremy Bontrager
Manager of Data
Analysis and Reporting

(336) 841-2820
jbontrag@highpoint.edu

 

About Jeremy: Jeremy serves as Manager of Data Analysis and Reporting in the Office of Institutional Advancement. He maintains the integrity of the database and provides the necessary data for Advancement Officers and others across the organization to be effective in communication efforts with alumni, families and friends of the University. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministries from Anderson University in Indiana and a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.

Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn

Carson Britt
Manager of Panther Club
Annual Giving and
Season Tickets
(336) 841-4677
cbritt1@highpoint.edu

 

About Carson: Carson joined High Point University’s Office of Institutional Advancement in October 2022. In his role as the Manager of Panther Club Annual Giving and Season Tickets, he is responsible for identifying, cultivating, and solicitating prospective Panther Club Donors for the Athletic Department. While contributing to the Panther Club’s annual fund goals, he also leads the Qubein Center season ticket sales for men’s and women’s basketball. Prior to his arrival at HPU, Carson served as a Business Development Representative for the Winston Salem Dash Baseball team. He received his undergraduate degree in Parks and Recreation Management, concentration in Business Administration, from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.   

Connect with Carson on LinkedIn

Taylor Cuthbertson
Advancement Officer
(336) 841-9664
tcuthber@highpoint.edu

 

About Taylor: Taylor Cuthbertson serves as an Advancement Officer in the Office of Institutional Advancement. In her role, she works closely with parents, alumni, and friends of HPU in the Southeast to advance the institutional priorities of HPU.

Prior to joining the team, she worked as an Admissions Counselor in the Office of Admissions at HPU. Taylor received her BS in Public Relations and a minor in Nonprofit Management from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.

Connect with Taylor on LinkedIn

Kiah Durham
Coordinator of Gratitude and Stewardship
(336) 841-9044
kdurham1@highpoint.edu

 

About Kiah: Kiah serves as the Coordinator of Gratitude and Stewardship here at High Point University. Kiah's role includes coordinating with Institutional Advancement teams to plan, organize, and execute gratitude and stewardship campaigns, as well as assisting with events and programs related to gratitude and stewardship initiatives.

Kiah is a 2020 Magna Cum Laude graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where she received her B.S in Journalism and Mass Communication. Upon graduating, she served for a year as an AmeriCorps Vista Volunteer where she helped build capacity in a small non-profit in Greensboro, N.C. 

Connect with Kiah on LinkedIn

 

 Alexis Helmer
Manager of Family Programs
(336) 841-9447
ahelmer@highpoint.edu

 

 

About Alexis: Alexis serves as the Manager of Family Programs in the Office of Institutional Advancement. She is responsible for managing volunteerism and engagement for HPU families, and overseeing programming and special events for the President’s Leadership Cabinet (PLC) and Parents Council (PC).

Prior to joining the team at HPU, she served as the Interim Assistant Director of Parent & Family Programs at William & Mary. Alexis received her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education Administration from William & Mary. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Christopher Newport University.

Connect with Alexis on LinkedIn

Kerianne Kabureck
Advancement Officer
(336) 841-8671
kkaburec@highpoint.edu 

 

About Kerianne: Kerianne joined HPU’s Institutional Advancement Office in April 2022. In her role as an Advancement Officer, she is responsible for advancing the institutional priorities at HPU by partnering with parents, alumni and friends throughout New Jersey and Long Island.

Prior to joining the team at HPU, she worked as a Director of Regional Development at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY. Kerianne received her MBA from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester. She also has a MA in Integrated Marketing Communications and a BBA in Marketing from St. Bonaventure University in New York.

Allie Key
Corporate Sales and Development Officer

(336) 841-9775
acrouse@highpoint.edu

 

About Allie: She serves as the Corporate Sales and Development Officer. This position serves the University in cultivating and soliciting current corporate relationships in the surrounding area. These relationships serve as pillars of support for major University events and athletic functions. Allie also supports the University in soliciting for donations to HPU’s Olympic Sports.

Connect with Allie on LinkedIn

Denise Lanier
Manager of Gifts and
Records Administration
(336) 841-9529
dlanier@highpoint.edu 

 

About Denise: As the Manager of Gifts and Records Administration, Denise's area of responsibility includes management of the Gift Processing team, as well as data maintenance and research related to constituent biographical information. She manages datea that enables the university to stay connected with alumni, donors, families and friends, ensuring data accuracy and integrity. She also ensures that gifts are processed by timely and accurately, and provides associated gift reporting. Denise has several years of gift processing experience, along with 30+ years of accounting and other transaction and data-related experience. She has been with HPU in Institutional Advancement since 2014. 

Kelly McFeeley
Manager of Annual Giving

(336) 841-9675
kmcfeeley@highpoint.edu

 

About Kelly: Kelly serves as the Manager of Annual Giving in the Office of Institutional Advancement. In her role, she helps execute fundraising strategies through annual giving programs, communications and events.

Kelly graduated from Appalachian State University in 2021 with a B.S.B.A in Hospitality and Tourism Management. While in school, she worked as a Student Representative for Appalachian’s Annual Giving department. Previously, she served as the Coordinator of Gratitude and Stewardship at HPU where she helped support donor recognition and appreciation opportunities.

 

Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn

 

Daniel P. Moody
Advancement Research Coordinator
(336) 841-9459
dmoody1@highpoint.edu

 

About Daniel: Daniel collects and analyzes data in support of the university’s special project funding, annual support, scholarships and other sources of giving. Additionally, he is responsible for providing research to the Advancement Officer team and provides training for the fundraising software. He has experience assisting Ph.D. faculty with research through data collection and entry, statistical analysis, grant funding, publication preparation and oral presentations. He previously taught Sociology as an adjunct instructor, and has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Sociology from Idaho State University. 

Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn

Fiona Reeves
Gift Processor
(336) 841-9619
freeves@highpoint.edu

 

About Fiona: In Fiona’s role as a Gift Processor, she has responsibility for entering and maintaining data in the Institutional Advancement customer relationship management system. Daily tasks include logging and entering gift details, preparing and sending acknowledgement letters to thank our donors, running daily reports, and processing event registrations. 

Prior to joining HPU, Fiona graduated from Greensboro College with a degree in Elementary Education and Biology. After graduating, she spent two years working with a medical provider but was eager to get back into helping further education, and joined the department in the summer of 2022.

Davis Shoener '20, M.A. '21
Alumni Events Coordinator

(336) 841-9698
dshoene1@highpoint.edu

 

About Davis: Davis serves as the Alumni Events Coordinator where he manages and executes both on and off-campus events for HPU alumni to help engage and promote impactful relationships within the alumni community. Davis graduated from HPU in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and a Master of Arts in Communication and Business Leadership in 2021.

Prior to joining the Office of Institutional Advancement, Davis worked in the Office of Communications as Campus Concierge. Currently, he also serves as HPU Club Baseball’s assistant coach.
 

Connect with Davis on LinkedIn

 

Brittany Smith
Gift Processor

(336) 841-9296
bmartins@highpoint.edu

 

About Brittany: She joined High Point’s Office of Institutional Advancement in April 2022.  Brittany began working as a Document Imaging Technician, and now serves as a Gift Processor. She is responsible for researching and maintaining data in the Institutional Advancement gift information system. She records gifts that are received via mail, phone calls, and through the website. Brittany will also prepare and send acknowledgement letters to thank our donors, run reports, and process event registrations. 

Prior to this position Brittany worked many years as a Certified Medical Assistant in Urgent Care, Orthopedics, and Family Medicine. She is a graduate of Wilkes Community College. 

Susan Sullivan
Manager of Advancement
Systems

(336) 841-9133
ssulliva@highpoint.edu

 

About Susan: Susan is the Advancement Systems Manager, and brings 23 years of data management experience to the Institutional Advancement team. Her responsibilities include maintaining of data accuracy and synchronization with other University systems, detailed financial tracking and reporting, data imports and exports, reporting in support of other areas within the University, end user setup and training, and system support. She earned her B.A. in English from Wake Forest University and a Master of Technical and Professional Writing degree from Northeastern University. 

Lisa Talavera
Advancement Officer

(336) 841-9817
ltalaver@highpoint.edu

 

About Lisa:  Lisa serves as an Advancement Officer, where she has the privilege to connect with parents, alumni, and friends of HPU- building strong relationships, while encouraging their involvement with the University. She previously served as Director of Advancement at Caldwell Academy, managing admissions, fundraising, marketing and communications for the school. Lisa earned a B.A. in Economics and English from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn

Lily Tiday
Manager of Gratitude and Stewardship
(336) 841-9324
ltiday@highpoint.edu

 

 

About Lily: Lily currently serves as the Manager of Gratitude and Stewardship at High Point University. She supports the gratitude and stewardship operations in the Office of Institutional Advancement. She also facilitates major and planned giving stewardship processes and events . that show appreciation to High Point University’s friends and families.

Lily is originally from Pennsylvania and has received her Bachelor of Science in Integrated Communications from Liberty University. Lily’s previous work experience includes time at the American Heart Association, along with working at her alma mater in their events office.

 

Connect with Lily on LinkedIn

Kayli Tolleson '21, M.A. '22
Alumni Engagement Coordinator

(336) 841-9832
ktolles1@highpoint.edu

 

 

About Kayli: As Alumni Engagement Coordinator, Kayli communicates with members of the HPU Alumni Association and connects with Alumni from around the world to share the numerous engagement opportunities and ways for them to share their time, talent, network, and investment. She also works with the Young Alumni Council, an advisory board of alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years who are liaisons to the administration of the University on matters related to alumni engagement, development and communications. Kayli graduated Magna Cum Laude from HPU in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sport Media and a minor in Sport Management.

She continued her pursuit of a Masters Degree at HPU and graduated in 2022 with a 3.8 GPA and a Masters in Communication and Business Leadership. Kayli has worked for the Greensboro Swarm and High Point Rockers as on-court/on-field emcee, HPU Office of Admissions as a Graduate Admissions Ambassador, was a Communications Fellow, and was an active member of Tri-Sigma Sorority and Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity.

Connect with Kayli on LinkedIn

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Gale Nance Varner
Administrative Assistant to the Senior Vice President

(336) 841-9127
gvarner@highpoint.edu

 

About Gale: Gale has proudly served the Office of Institutional Advancement as Administrative Assistant/Office Manager since 2000. She provides a wide range of administrative support for the entire office, including assisting the Senior Vice President and Advancement Officers. Gale holds Associate degrees in Applied Science in both Business and Accounting. Prior to HPU, she worked in the banking industry, and served as Librarian/Branch Manager in the Davidson County Public Library system for over ten years.

Connect with Gale on LinkedIn

Pete Worcester
Advancement Officer

(336) 841-9352
pworcest@highpoint.edu

 

About Pete: Pete joined HPU’s Institutional Advancement Office in December 2021. In his role as Advancement Officer, he is responsible for advancing the institutional priorities at HPU with parents, alumni and friends throughout North Carolina. Most of his career was in leadership roles in marketing and business development for global consumer packaged goods and textile companies. Prior to joining HPU, served as major gift officer for Guilford College. Pete received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and BA from Williams College.

Connect with Pete on LinkedIn

 

 

 

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