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USC Upstate Appoints new Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Executive Director of the Foundation

 

The University of South Carolina Upstate has appointed Meredith N. Brunen, Ed.D. as Vice Chancellor for University Advancement and Executive Director of the USC Upstate Foundation. Dr. Brunen brings more than a decade of development experience to this administrative leadership role.

Currently, Dr. Brunen serves as Interim Vice President for University Advancement at the University of West Florida. The principal authority on all division matters and works to create an effective fundraising team, she provides leadership, strategic planning, and counsel and assistance to unit directors within the Division of Advancement on matters related to fundraising, accountability, and staff.

Prior to joining the University of West Florida in 2016, Dr. Brunen served as Executive Director of Development for NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC), where she led the institutional development team, directing all facets of philanthropic giving to the College – including annual, major and planned giving – as well as special events, alumni relations, and scholarships.

She began her career in higher education in 2005 as a Development Officer at NWACC. The following year, she joined the Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock as Associate Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations. In 2007, she returned to NWACC as Associate Director for Development and, in 2009, was named Director of Development. She held the position of Executive Director from 2010 to 2016.

Dr. Brunen holds three degrees from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She earned in 2003 a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations/ Middle East Studies with a French minor and in 2005 a Master of Education degree in Higher Education Leadership. In 2012, she received her Doctor of Education degree in Higher Education Leadership.

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