Sarah Emerson named Vice President of Advancement

Dear Oglethorpe Community,

Please join me in welcoming to Oglethorpe Sarah Emerson as the new Vice President ofAdvancement, effective April 15. Sarah currently serves as Executive Director for Foundation Relations at Georgia State University where she has managed a portfolio of principal-gift level foundations and presidential relationships, serving as the lead fundraiser on more than $25M in philanthropic gifts since 2022.

Sarah previously held the Assistant Vice President for Advancement, Corporate & Foundation Relations position at Georgia State after three years at the Georgia Institute of Technology as Director of Foundation Relations and five years at the University of Georgia as Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations. In addition to her extensive experience at higher education institutions in Georgia, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., a private liberal arts institution similar in size and mission to Oglethorpe. She also has a master’s degree in education from the University of Georgia. Thank you to Senior Vice President Pete Stobie and the members of the Search Committee — Dr. Allison Roessler, Todd Brooks, Kathryn Henderson, Matt Huff, Elizabeth Peterson Jennings, and Jazmin Rainey — for their efforts in this vitally important search.  I also want to offer a special word of gratitude to Lance Wallace, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, for taking on administrative responsibility for Advancement during the interim and serving with distinction. Lance has worked tirelessly on behalf of Oglethorpe this past year, reaching out to alumni and university friends to raise support for our mission. On behalf of our entire university community, I want to convey my thanks. Moving forward, Lance will work closely with Sarah to ensure a smooth transition, continuing the strong momentum we are building in advancing Oglethorpe financially and reputationally.

Thank you to everyone on campus for your engagement in this search and your on-going involvement in our current searches for the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs and other key positions. I hope to have more good news to announce in the near future.

I hope you are able to take advantage of the spring week March 18-22 for some recovery time as we prepare to enjoy the many activities the second half of spring semester has to offer, culminating in Commencement on May 18. I value the work each of you does on behalf of Oglethorpe and our students.

Best,

Kathryn McClymond, Ph.D. (she/her)
President