"West Texas A&M University President Walter V. Wendler has named Dr. Todd Rasberry as the University’s new vice president for institutional advancement. Rasberry, one of two finalists interviewed for the position, will begin his duties at WTAMU on Aug. 15.
He is filling a position vacated in February, and Joe Bill Sherrod, senior director of development, is filling in as the interim until Rasberry’s arrival.
Rasberry comes to WTAMU from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Ky., where he has served as the vice president for institutional advancement since 2014. Prior to his tenure at Georgetown, Rasberry spent seven years as director of development at Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology and 10 years as a senior development officer for the College of Arts of Sciences at Texas Tech University. He brings years of expertise to WTAMU with an impressive list of accomplishments in development, donor relations, alumni relations, stewardship and capital campaign strategy and coordination. He’s played an integral role in a $1 billion capital campaign and has a consistent record in increasing donor numbers as well as alumni participation rates.
As WTAMU’s new vice president for institutional advancement, Rasberry’s background will be a perfect fit as he oversees the Office of Development, Alumni Relations and the WTAMU Foundation.
“Dr. Rasberry brings many talents to the position and is more than capable of organizing, leading and advancing the University’s external relations efforts,” Wendler said. “I look forward to working with him.”
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in humanities from McMurry University and a Master of Divinity from the SMU Perkins School of Theology. He earned a Ph.D. in technical communication and rhetoric from Texas Tech University with a dissertation titled No Magic, Just Rhetoric: Understanding Major Gift Fundraising as a Rhetorical Genre. He is the author of several publications on the topic of fund raising and has taught both graduate level and doctoral level courses at the Perkins School of Theology.
“I am humbled and energized by the opportunity to serve alongside President Wendler, other administrators, board members, faculty, students, staff, alumni and friends of West Texas A&M University,” Rasberry said. “I consider the work of securing resources necessary to propel the institution forward as important and necessary. Future growth in enrollment, program, degrees and institutional reputation will require the engagement and support of many people. I have been entrusted with the work of leading the advancement team to secure that support. I look forward to the opportunity.”
Rasberry grew up in Childress, and his wife, Blanche, is from Midland and attended summer band camps at the University. They are excited to return to the Texas Panhandle as part of the WTAMU family."
-West Texas A&M University
Photo by West Texas A&M University