Carson-Newman Taps Scott Faulkenberry To Lead Its Advancement Division

Scott Faulkenberry

Faulkenberry joins C-N as Advancement Chief Carson-Newman President Randall O’Brien has selected Scott Faulkenberry to serve as vice president for Advancement, and thereby oversee the University’s expansion of friends, funds and donor base. He comes to Carson-Newman from Jefferson County’s Economic Development Alliance (EDA), where he served as executive director.

Faulkenberry will lead the development and implementation of financial support strategies that undergird the University’s mission to help students “reach their full potential as educated citizens and worldwide servant leaders by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.” Specifically, he will oversee development initiatives that include alumni relations, annual giving, charitable gifts, donor relations, estate planning, grant writing and major gifts.

“We are thrilled that Scott is joining the Carson-Newman family to lead our Advancement Division,” said Carson-Newman President J. Randall O’Brien. “He has great experience in a breadth of development roles that include vision casting, donor recruitment and economic development. Beyond that, he brings entrepreneurial dynamism, connections across the Southeast and the ability to generate partnerships for an innovative future.

Faulkenberry’s experience includes raising more than $200 million for local, regional, national and international not for profit organizations. A former principal officer with one of the leading national fundraising firms specializing economic development and chambers of commerce support, he utilizes a proprietary return on investment approach to fundraising.

“I am feeling a lot of excitement about joining Carson-Newman,” said Faulkenberry. “It’s blessed with a storied history of Christian education and service and deeply-rooted traditions. Ultimately, this will be a remarkable opportunity for people who know and love the University to partner with us as we seek to broaden institutional support.”

The new vice president says his team will not “reinvent the wheel,” but will employ best practices used by successful “sister institutions,” which will include innovative concepts and customize implementation strategies across all fundraising platforms.

At EDA, Faulkenberry oversaw a public/private partnership dedicated to Jefferson County’s economic development. The operation consisted primarily of four focus areas – attracting new businesses, retaining and expanding existing industry, edifying the county’s workforce and tourism. A recent effort, the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Eastern Regional, generated close to a quarter-million-dollars in economic impact over four days in May, when some 160 collegiate teams came to Cherokee Lake from a dozen states.

Faulkenberry says he anticipates matching donors to programs they value and designing fundraising initiatives to meet the University’s needs. “The ongoing cultivation of personal, foundation and corporate relationships lead to results for not for profit institutions like Carson-Newman,” he said.

O’Brien said he is looking forward to working closely with his new development leader.

“One of the things I liked from our first conversation was Scott’s ability to look at issues at both the macro and micro levels,” praised C-N’s president. “Our constituents will enjoy getting to know him, but I think what they will appreciate most is his commitment to working with them to undergird our Christian mission of higher education.”

Prior to leading the EDA, Faulkenberry helped raise funds for clients through nonprofit consultant firms Convergent Nonprofit Solutions and Palmetto Community Development Services, of which he was president. He served as Advancement vice president at Francis Marion University, where he also led the school’s foundation.

Faulkenberry notes the return to higher education while staying in the area is especially pleasing. “I am grateful that this opportunity allows me to remain here because moving Carson-Newman forward will also improve Jefferson County. Education is the single most important aspect of economic development and I believe that we can help foster economic strength and the partnership between the University and the community.”

A former officer in the U.S. Army National Guard, Faulkenberry holds a BA from the College of Charleston. He and his wife Windsor have three children, Mary Miles, Claire and Ford.