Wilson, NC – August 18, 2023 – Barton College is excited to announce the newest addition to the Institutional Advancement team, Katie Thomason, who has assumed the role of Director of Development and Alumni Engagement as of July 31, 2023. With a robust background in higher education outreach and a commitment to fostering meaningful connections, Katie brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to this pivotal role. Originally from Wake Forest, NC, Katie now calls Wilson, NC home with her husband, Bryant, their two sons, Max and Jack, and their two rescue dogs, Kato and Khloe.
Katie earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from East Carolina University in 2013. She specifically recalls her time as an undergraduate student where she discovered her passion as a student fundraiser. During this time, Katie enjoyed the connections she made with alumni – from shared appreciation for professors, memories of attending football games, to ultimately bringing alumni back to remembering how impactful their college experience was. She quickly moved into a supervisory role and two days after graduation, she moved to Chapel Hill, NC to manage the UNC Phonathon.
With a steadfast commitment to advancing academic excellence and community engagement, Katie has since supported the development and engagement outreach for over 50 higher education institutions. Her most recent position as a Client Success Director with Ruffalo Noel Levitz allowed her to fully manage and execute alumni outreach from phone, direct mail, email, and digital channels in a thoughtful and intentional approach for a diverse portfolio of higher education institutions.
In her new role within the Office of Institutional Advancement, Katie will oversee annual fund outreach and alumni relations, where she will work closely with the Barton community to grow the annual fund, strengthen alumni engagement and giving, and lead peer-to-peer fundraising efforts such as Clash of the Bulldogs and Giving Day. “I am most looking forward to expanding outreach to tell more stories about alumni and the impact of philanthropy on our students in a meaningful way,” Katie shares. “More importantly, I am most excited about becoming a member of the Barton family.”
Katie looks forward to her first year working with the Barton community. “In the next year, we will be focused on hearing from our alumni – their stories, experiences, ideas, and everything in between. We also hope to continue growing our outreach and engagement initiatives including Clash of the Bulldogs, Homecoming, Giving Day, and so much more,” Katie says.
As Katie settles in on the second floor of Harper Hall, she’s quickly learning what it means to be a Barton Bulldog. “Alumni engagement is absolutely critical to ensuring that Atlantic Christian College and Barton College alumni know that they are and will always be a part of the Barton family, no matter how far away they are or how long it’s been since they have visited campus,” she mentions. “Barton alumni are proof for our current students that they have a bright and successful path ahead of them. The more involved our alumni are, the more obvious it is that an education from Barton College is one to be proud of and is just the start of a lifetime of opportunity.”
To connect with Katie, you may reach her at [email protected] or (252) 399-6544.