Under the leadership of Jeffrey Ulmer, left, Stetson University’s Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement, the university’s main fundraising and alumni division has a new administrative structure in place under a new senior leadership team.

Amy Gipson, former Director of Strategic Communications and Assistant to the President, is now Assistant Vice President for Development Strategy & Communications. Gipson’s responsibilities have expanded to sharing leadership of Stetson’s philanthropy efforts, including annual giving, stewardship and special campaigns. Before joining Stetson, Gipson worked at Stephens College for 17 years where she held the position of Vice President of Marketing and Communications for six years.

“Every day I encounter people who are enthusiastic about the work they do at Stetson and with our students,” said Gipson. “It’s gratifying to be part of such a community where you can see the difference we are making together. I am excited in my new role to collaborate more broadly with the Stetson community and others on initiatives that advance Stetson’s mission and that connect our alumni and friends in meaningful relationships with the university.”

With more than 27 years’ experience working in admissions, recruitment and enrollment management in higher educational institutions including Furman and the University of South Carolina, Woody O’Cain is Stetson’s new Executive Director of Alumni Engagement. He also worked as a consultant for Performa Higher Education, now called CREDO, as the Director of Admission Solutions. In each career move, he has built lasting relationships between institutions and the people they serve.

“One of the first things I learned in my admissions career was the importance of ‘recruiting one student at a time,’” O’Cain said. “That philosophy never escaped me. Every single person and family with which I worked, I tried in earnest to help them make the very best decision possible and to find their right match. Stetson is beautiful, is the kind of place that has had an impact on the lives of so many people and I am really looking forward to facilitating meaningful ways to engage members of the Stetson family.

Kate Pearce, who started at Stetson in January 1990, was named the Assistant Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement in August 2013. Her current responsibilities include overseeing the Office of Gift Planning, supervising five major gift officers and coordinating a variety of events during the year.

“During the past 25 years, I have been a member of the Stetson family—both as a staff member and as a parent,” Pearce said. “Even though much has changed during that time, one thing has remained constant – the Development staff’s dedication to assisting students. It is a pleasure to work with donors who choose to support scholarships, student research and programs (during their lifetime and through their estate), so that they can make a difference in the lives of deserving young people. And interacting with students who are grateful recipients of this generosity continues to touch my heart. I can’t imagine a more rewarding career.”

Other additions/promotions to the Development and Alumni Engagement division include Kevin Hughes as Assistant Dean and Debbie Duncan as Major Gifts Officer for Stetson University’s College of Law; Amy Dedes as Associate Director of Alumni Engagement; and Cheryl Stadtler as Prospect Researcher.

“Our new structure means we are well-positioned to better meet the needs of Stetson and our partners, whether they are faculty and staff here on campus or our alumni and donors throughout the state and beyond,” Ulmer said. “The leadership skills and strategic thinking on our senior Development team will guide us in meeting and exceeding our fundraising and engagement goals.”