Brenda Wilson-Hale was appointed to the position of vice president for university development and executive officer of the WSU Foundation by President Elson S. Floyd in late January.

“This is a prestigious appointment from a wonderful university,” Wilson-Hale said. “My goal is to serve the interest of WSU by fundraising at the highest potential that we can possibly achieve.” She succeeds Len Jessup, who left the position in May.

“Since joining the foundation, Brenda Wilson-Hale has provided outstanding direction and leadership,” Floyd said in a news release. “I think she is the natural choice to take on the duties of vice president for university development.” Wilson-Hale is now responsible for leading university fundraising efforts.

“She has spent her whole career in fundraising,” said Larry Culver, chairman of the WSU Foundation Board of Governors, who also chaired the search committee. “With her strong campaign experience, she is an extremely qualified individual.” Wilson-Hale has shown strong management skills in her work with the foundation, Culver said. She is a good coach and behind-the-scenes leader.

Under Wilson-Hale’s leadership, the foundation will make sure that private support is at levels that fit the stature of the university. Wilson-Hale plans to build a strong team to work toward the key fundraising initiatives of the university.

“To be in a leadership position, I can channel energy from all of these great thinkers and great people for the objectives of the university,” she said.

Wilson-Hale started working as senior vice president of the foundation in March 2007. She came to WSU from Michigan State University. Her work history includes many leadership roles in fundraising at DePaul University in Chicago, Morehouse School of Medicine and Spelman College, both in Atlanta.

The purpose of the foundation she now leads is to promote private support and raise money for university programs, initiatives and properties.

“We are the private fundraising arm for the university,” Wilson-Hale said. “Our job is to work with individuals and corporations to match the interests of those entities to the needs of the university.” Culver said the foundation works with individuals and various colleges at the university to focus their fundraising into a coordinated effort.

“The foundation benefits WSU in many areas,” Culver said. “I think that every facet of the university is touched by what happens at the foundation level.” The foundation receives a large part of its fundraising from alumni because they are the people closest to the university. Wilson-Hale said as a rule, they also have the greatest affection for the university.

“Being able to work with those people who are alumni and great friends of the institution is personally rewarding,” Wilson-Hale said. “I can see how leveraging these wonderful relationships leads to identifying and securing the support that we need to achieve the goals of the university.”