PENN STATE COUPLE TO FILL TOP FUND-RAISING POSTS AT ARKANSAS

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK A fund-raising couple from The Pennsylvania State University has been named to significant fund-raising posts at the University of Arkansas, effective Nov. 2.

Sandra Keiser Edwards, 47, director of development for Outreach and Cooperative Extension at Penn State, has been named Associate Vice Chancellor for Development. Her appointment culminates a two-month search. Ms. Edwards was the unanimous choice of the search committee.

Her husband, Clay Edwards, 51, director of regional and University programs in the Office of University Development at Penn State, has been named Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development.

"In bringing Sandy and Clay Edwards to the University of Arkansas, we have attracted two of the best fund-raisers in American higher education," said Dr. G. David Gearhart, vice chancellor for University advancement. "Their arrival here will have a huge impact on our fund-raising programs. Their leadership will allow us to move quickly to the level of private gift support necessary to ensure Arkansas' emergence as a nationally respected research university. I am absolutely ecstatic they will be joining a strong advancement team. They have been key ingredients to Penn State's success in fund raising."

Both the Edwards were key staff members to the successful $352 million capital campaign at Penn State which ran from 1985 to 1990. They are currently providing staff support to Penn State's $800 million capital campaign.

This will be Gearhart's second time working with the Edwards. In 1988, when he was senior vice president for development and university relations at Penn State, he recruited them from the Shreveport (La.) Symphony. Ms. Edwards had worked as general manager of the symphony and Mr. Edwards as director of development.

As associate vice chancellor, Ms. Edwards will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing fund raising for the University, with related responsibilities for the major, annual, and planned giving programs, as well as corporate and foundation relations.

As assistant vice chancellor, Mr. Edwards will be responsible for the overall management and direction of constituent development staff in the University's schools, colleges and major program areas.

"We are extremely impressed with the University of Arkansas and Chancellor John White's vision for moving it forward in the ranks of the nation's great universities," Ms. Edwards said. "Given the University's pre-eminence in the state, its legions of loyal alumni and supporters, its many friends in the corporate and business world, and its excellent academic community, there's great potential. We want to help make significant strides in fund-raising and increase the endowment to benefit students, faculty, the University and, by extension, the people of Arkansas and the nation. Clay and I are very excited to be working with Dave Gearhart again."

As director of development for Outreach and Cooperative Extension at Penn State, a post she has held since 1992, Ms. Edwards created the first comprehensive advancement program in the field of continuing and distance education at a public research university. She raised two-thirds of her seven-year $10 million capital campaign goal in only two years. She was part of the management team that created Penn State's World Campus, a virtual university for students at a physical distance from the University. She helped create the Penn State/AT&T alliance that generated $27 million in new funds and significant cost-savings to the University.

From 1988 to 1992, she was director of station development for WPSX-TV and WPSU-FM, Penn State's public broadcasting stations.

She holds a B.A. degree in sociology and German from Lenoir Rhyne College in Hickory, NC, and an M.S. degree in college student personnel services from Western Illinois University.
As director of regional and University programs at Penn State, a post he has held since 1996, Mr. Edwards directed a staff that focused on expanding the major gift prospect base in key regions: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York metro, Florida, and central Pennsylvania. He and his staff secured $21 million in commitments in the first two years of the campaign.

From 1988 to 1996, he served as director of development and alumni relations for the College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State, raising $11.6 million while creating the College's first advancement office that included alumni relations, publications, and development.

Working for the Shreveport Symphony from 1983-88, he created its first development office and served as its director, and doubled fund-raising results.

He is a 1969 graduate of Davidson (NC) College, with a B.A. in psychology.