WCU Stories      August 12, 2019

Western Carolina University Chancellor Kelli R. Brown has announced that Lori A. Lewis has stepped down from her position as the university’s vice chancellor for advancement, effective Monday, Aug. 12. Jamie Temples Raynor, assistant vice chancellor for development and alumni engagement, will serve as interim leader of WCU’s Division of Advancement.

Brown made the first announcement about the changes in leadership for the division in a message to the campus community Aug. 12. Lewis had been serving as vice chancellor for advancement at WCU since June 2016.

 “I thank Ms. Lewis for her service to the university,” Brown said. “Under her leadership, the university concluded the successful ‘Lead the Way’ comprehensive fundraising campaign, which will help ensure that WCU is meeting its mission of providing access to higher education by removing financial barriers faced by so many of our students.”

The campaign, inspired by former Chancellor David O. Belcher’s dedication to increasing scholarship support for WCU students, had a public launch March 1, 2018, following a silent – or leadership – phase that began in 2014. The campaign raised nearly $62 million in cash, pledges, grants and planned gifts and created 200 new scholarship funds.

“As a result, Western Carolina University is well-positioned to begin charting a new direction in our fund- and friend-raising activities and planning for our next campaign,” Brown said. “I remain fully supportive of the Division of Advancement, and I have the utmost confidence in the strength and competency of the staff.”

In a subsequent email to campus Wednesday, Aug. 14, Brown announced that Raynor had agreed to an interim appointment to lead the division. Raynor came to WCU as director of development in August 2015 from Armstrong State University in Savannah, Georgia, where she was director of annual giving. She previously held development positions at Colorado Mountain College and the University of South Carolina-Aiken. She was named assistant vice chancellor at WCU in February 2017.

“During her time at WCU, she has demonstrated a deep passion for philanthropy, a strong commitment to this university and an ability to work with a wide variety of constituents, both on the campus and off,” Brown said.

The Division of Advancement at WCU includes the offices of Development and Annual Giving, Alumni Engagement, and Advancement Services.

Raynor has indicated that she does not plan to seek the vice chancellor position on a permanent basis, Brown said.

Lewis came to WCU from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. She previously served in advancement and development positions at Marietta College, Virginia Tech and Ohio University.

Information regarding the launch of a national search for a successor will be forthcoming.