Ben Mohler - AVP, Office: 859-622-2567 Mobile: 704-488-5966 ben.mohler@eku.edu College & Unit Assignments Eastern Kentucky University University College of Business and Technology Sharron Townsend - Senior Director of College of Education Ben Kees - Associate Director of College of Health Sciences Josh Nicholas - Associate Director of College of Justice and Safety Chris Tuveson - Director of College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences Melinda Murphy - Director of College of Science Andrew Polter - Associate Director of EKU Annual Fund Amy Foulkes - Director of Annual Giving EKU Athletics Austin Newton - Assistant Athletic Director of Marissa Parmer - Director of Colonel Club EKU Center Andrew Polter - Associate Director of VACANT - Coordinator/Assistant EKU Libraries Chris Tuveson - Director of Graduate School Ben Mohler - Assistant Vice President, Regional Stewardship & WEKU Ben Kees - Associate Director of Student Life & Student Success Josh Nicholas - Associate Director of Page 1 of 6
TEAM BIOS Amy J. Foulkes, M.A. Director of Annual Giving Office: Coates Colonel Call Center (Garden Level) Email: amy.foulkes@eku.edu 859.622.1563 Amy Foulkes is the Director of Annual Fund for Eastern Kentucky University. In this position, she directs the comprehensive annual fund development strategy across all university colleges and units. Before joining the development team, Amy worked in Admissions for 9 years the last five for Eastern Kentucky University, recruiting Future Colonels. During that time, she earned her M.A. degree in Student Personnel Services where she interned with EKU s Department of Alumni and Donor Engagement. Foulkes is from a military family and grew up all over the world. She completed her bachelor degree from University of the Cumberlands. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with friends, and has recently discovered a love for running in Disney races. Ben J. Kees, M.Ed. Associate Director of Office: Jones 307 Mailing Address: Coates CPO 19A Email: ben.kees@eku.edu Phone: 859.622.1573 Ben Kees is an Associate Director of for the College of Education, Model Lab School, WEKU and Regional Stewardship at Eastern Kentucky University. In this position Kees works with alumni and friends of the university passionate about providing philanthropic leadership. Prior to this role, Kees completed a graduate degree in higher education administration at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College. He previously held professional roles in fund development, external relations, and admissions at Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church, Vanderbilt's Peabody College, and Kentucky Wesleyan College, respectively. Kees, a native of the Commonwealth, is originally from Russellville, KY and graduated from Kentucky Wesleyan College in 2010. Personally, he enjoys listening to music and playing guitar and mandolin. Kees spends a lot of time involved with his favorite sports: soccer, basketball, and baseball. But most of all, he is a lover of history and is eager to learn about the people and the stories of Richmond. Page 2 of 6
Benjamin Mohler, M.A., CFRE, ACFRE Assistant Vice President, Office: Jones 324 Email: ben.mohler@eku.edu Phone: 859.622.2567 Ben Mohler is the Assistant Vice President for at Eastern Kentucky University. In this position Mohler oversees all efforts relating to annual, major, and planned gift fundraising including the leadership of the University's professional fundraising staff. Prior to his current role, he served as Director of Philanthropy and for The William States Lee College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte). Before joining the advancement staff at UNC Charlotte, Mohler held key advancement roles at Cedarville University and the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. He graduated from Cedarville University and completed a graduate degree in philanthropy and development at Saint Mary s University of Minnesota. He is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and the only Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive (ACFRE) in the Bluegrass State. Melinda A. Murphy, J.D. Director of, Gift and Estate Planning Office: Jones 306 Email: melinda.murphy@eku.edu Phone: 859.622.8090 Melinda A. Murphy is the Director of Gift and Estate Planning. In this role, she works with those that wish to make impact and legacy gifts to Eastern Kentucky University. She is also assigned as the development director to help the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences. Prior to this position, Murphy held key roles with three different law firms in Richmond, KY. It was during this growth from associate, partner, and owner of a private practice that Murphy developed her experience in estate planning and administration. Since 2012, she has served as adjunct faculty for the EKU Paralegal Program, Department of Government and Economics. Murphy, a resident of Madison County for over two decades is originally from Wisconsin. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Baldwin-Wallace University and obtained her J.D. from The University of Akron. Her professional knowledge plus her longstanding residence in Madison County brings great depth and local knowledge to the team. Murphy is married to Mike Karpathakis an Eastern Kentucky University alumnus. Their daughter, Erin, is an EKU student. Page 3 of 6
Austin Newton Assistant Athletic Director of Office: Jones 306 Email: Austin.Newton@eku.edu Phone: 859.622.5073 Austin Newton is the Assistant Athletic Director of at Eastern Kentucky University. In this role, Newton works in close coordination with the leadership and coaches of Colonel Athletics to have a lasting impact on the program. Prior to his current position, Newton led the revitalization of Colonel Athletics annual fund development as the Director of the Colonel Club. In that role, he more than doubled charitable gifts from the previous year in less than half the time. Before his work in the Office of and Alumni Relations at EKU, Austin held leadership roles in collegiate athletics both at EKU and UMass. Each of these included a fundraising and external relations component. Austin also has held key roles in finance and hospitality. Austin graduated Cum Laude from Eastern Kentucky University with a degree in public relations. In addition to his passion for Colonel Athletics, he is an active member of the Richmond community, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, Colonel Reading Program, and Kenwood Nursing Home. He is excited for his new role to grow Colonel Athletics major gifts through thoughtful philanthropy. Josh S. Nicholas, M.S. Associate Director of Office: Jones 307 Email: josh.nicholas@eku.edu Phone: 859.622.5062 Josh Nicholas is the Associate Director of for Eastern Kentucky University. He works with donors interested in making impact philanthropic investment. In this regard, his primary assignment is to assist the leadership of the College of Health Sciences and Student Life and Student Success programs. Before returning to his alma mater, Nicholas worked at The University of Tennessee in the Tennessee Fund as a Assistant. Prior to UT, Nicholas served in athletic departments at the University of Louisville, University of Mississippi, and Eastern Kentucky University in a variety of roles, including marketing, sales, and development. Nicholas is a native of Louisville, KY and completed his B.S. in Sport Management at Eastern Kentucky University where he was a student athlete (football) from 2009-2010, and an active member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. He also completed a Master of Sport Management from the University of Louisville. Nicholas is married to Lauren Simpson of Bardstown, KY an Eastern Kentucky University alumna. Page 4 of 6
Marissa M. Parmer, M.S. Director of Colonel Club Office: Jones 306 Email: marissa.parmer@eku.edu Phone: 859.622.8685 Marissa Parmer is the Director of Colonel Club at Eastern Kentucky University. She works closely with coaches and fans of EKU Intercollegiate Athletics to grow support for athletic scholarships, facilities, and programs. Prior to her current role, Parmer oversaw the donor stewardship program of EKU first as the Donor Relations and Stewardship Coordinator and more recently as the Director of Donor Engagement. Previous to these positions, Parmer has held key positions at EKU, including roles in University Housing and as the Dance Team head coach. Parmer is a native of the Buckeye State. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1999 with a B.S. in physical education wellness and a minor in dance. Her M.S. in kinesiology wellness is from the University of North Dakota. When not participating in the countless games and events of EKU Sports, she is active in volunteering and spends free time with her loving family. Her husband, Brent, serves as the Director of Campus Recreation for EKU. Their two sons, Bryce and Broc, are very active in sports, robotics, and academic teams. Perhaps the most active member of the Parmer family is their loving dog, Dash. Andrew T. Polter Associate Director of Office: Jones 307 Email: andrew.polter@eku.edu Phone: 859.622.6891 Andrew Polter is the Associate Director of for the College of Science and the EKU Center at Eastern Kentucky University. He works with donors interested in making philanthropic investments in the mission of EKU. Prior to his current role, Polter was the Assistant Director of and assisted EKU University Programs and the EKU Center for the Arts. Before coming to EKU, Andrew was active in the development field as an intern for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Oxford Community Arts Center, Chautauqua Institution, Boston Lyric Opera, and Miami University s Office of University Advancement. Polter graduated from Miami University with degrees in music performance (percussion) and arts management. In addition to his passion for philanthropy, he is an active musician, educator, and an avid hiker. He is excited to be a member of the Colonel Family and looks forward to developing a culture of giving at Eastern Kentucky University. Page 5 of 6
Sharron Townsend, MSW Senior Director of Office: BTC 227 Mailing: BTC 214 Email: sharron.townsend@eku.edu Phone: 859.622.4459 Sharron Townsend is the Senior Director of for the College of Business and Technology. She joined the EKU development team in June of 2016, and brings with her an impressive set of credentials. Her career in higher education fundraising began in 1990 when she joined the Office of at the University of Kentucky as Director of Annual Giving. In 1996, she became the Director of College Advancement in the College of Engineering, the first position of its kind at UK. From 2014-2016, she was a Senior Associate with Trek Advancement, a fundraising consulting firm in Lexington. Townsend, from a farming family in western Kentucky, graduated from Murray State University and received her graduate degree at the University of Kentucky. Her career began in Lexington in social services, then to a local non-profit agency, then to higher education fundraising where she has spent over 25 years. Having recently joined development team, she is excited to be a part of all the good things happening at EKU! Christine "Chris" Tuveson Director of Office: Jones 309 Email: christine.tuveson@eku.edu Phone: 859.622.9259 Christine "Chris" Tuveson is the Director of for Eastern Kentucky University. She brings a rich professional perspective to help donors that seek to positively impact the people, places, and programs of EKU. Her primary assignment is to provide key leadership to advise the philanthropic growth of the College of Justice and Safety and the EKU Libraries. Prior to her current role, Tuveson was the Director of for the Boys' Choir of Tallahassee, Inc. and two different colleges at Florida State University. The latter positions spanned nearly a decade. These development roles in the non-profit sector were preceded by nearly two-decade career in consulting and project management positions. Tuveson graduated from Florida State University with a degree in American Studies. Page 6 of 6