Susan D. Vance, interim vice president for institutional advancement at Tusculum College, was recently named president of the Tennessee Advancement Resource Council (TARC).
Vance, who has been with Tusculum College’s Institutional Advancement Office since 2003 and has served as interim vice president since February 2007, is a 1991 graduate of the college.
“I am honored and am eager to make a positive contribution to the organization in support of our mission to promote both professional and educational excellence in the schools, colleges and universities of Tennessee,” she said.
The announcement of the organization’s new slate of officers was made during the organization’s annual conference held in Nashville. Vance has previously served as vice president and president-elect this past year.
“The organization has benefited from the guidance of our previous president John W. Smith, associate director of advancement services at Tennessee Tech University,” said Vance. “He has done great work, and we are all grateful for his leadership.”
Vance was in Nashville to participate in the conference along with Tusculum College President Nancy B. Moody; Kim Kidwell, director of development; Cody Greene, coordinator of development and alumni relations, and Kathy Brown, director of advancement services.
Dr. Moody also participated in a president’s panel along with Dr. Jan Simek, of the University of Tennessee and Dr. Warren Nichols of Volunteer State Community College. The presentation provided the presidential perspective of various aspects of the advancement field.
While in Nashville the Tusculum College group also hosted an alumni event and had the opportunity to connect with Nashville area alumni who attended the event.
“The TARC conference is an excellent professional development opportunity for advancement professionals, with workshops providing expertise and information sharing for those who work in all aspects of advancement, including development, alumni, communications and advancement services,” said Vance.
“Being able to combine the experience with an alumni event allowed us to accomplish several things at one time, particularly having Dr. Moody join us at the event. We truly enjoyed the opportunity to reunite with our Nashville-area alumni.”
Approximately 100 attendees participated in the conference representing 28 institutions of higher education from across the state from both private and public institutions.
The Tennessee Advancement Resources Council was established in 1973 to promote both professional and educational excellence in the schools, colleges and universities of Tennessee. The council strives to serve as a forum for exchanging thoughts on how to build and enhance alumni and development programs and services.