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Advancement Division

Joseph M. Ivey
Senior Vice President for Advancement

Joe Ivey began working at Lipscomb in June 2005. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in Bible from Freed-Hardeman in 1979, and master of business administration degree from Texas A&M University 2005. He has served as president and chief executive officer of three companies, one of which was among the Fortune 500. He was with the Madison Street Partnership from 2002 to 2005 where he invested and managed a portfolio of marketable securities and private businesses, and provided consulting to non-profit organizations and corporations. He is also a former chairman of the Freed-Hardeman University Board of Trustees. Ivey has oversight of all fundraising efforts for the University and Campus School, including planned giving, foundation and corporate support, and maintenance of alumni and benefactor records. Also under Ivey's oversight are the areas of admissions and marketing and public relations. He may be contacted by phone at 615.966.6220 or via e-mail.

England, David G. David England
Associate Vice President of Advancement

G. David England joined the Advancement team in August 2004. He is responsible for the university's government relations and donor stewardship programs, and assists with general administration of the Advancement division. A former radio station news director, David joined the Lipscomb staff in 1979 as director of the News Bureau, which grew to become the office of Marketing and Public Relations during his 25-year tenure in that office. A Nashville native, he is a 1977 mass communications graduate of Middle Tennessee State University. David may be reached at 615.966.6210, 800.333.4358 ext. 6210, or by e-mail at david.england@lipscomb.edu.

Development Division

Dr. Bennie L. Harris
Vice President for Development

Dr. Bennie Harris has served as Lipscomb University’s Vice President of Development since May 2007. He came to Lipscomb from DePaul University in Chicago where he served as the assistant vice president for development and campaign director. Harris holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Mississippi State University, an MBA in strategic marketing from Washington State University and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Along with his leadership position at DePaul, Harris also served as the director for the Center for Human Rights at Washington State University, as interim and associate director of corporate and foundation relations at Washington State, and as senior director of development and external affairs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Harris has more than 15 years of experience in professional fundraising including annual giving, alumni relations, major gifts, planned giving, events management, government relations, corporate and foundations relations, advisory board support and marketing. He may be contacted by phone at 615.966.5687 or via e-mail.

Jim W. Creech
Major Gift Officer

Jim received his education from Lipscomb University and Middle Tennessee State University. He began his work with Lipscomb University in May 1999 after having worked in Development with Herald of Truth ministries for eight years. Jim also served as pulpit minister for churches in Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee for 29 years. He serves as an elder of the Walter Hill church of Christ in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. As a major gift officer, Jim works with alumni and friends of the University to accomplish their philanthropic goals and to provide the resources necessary to encourage excellence among all Lipscomb students. He may be reached by e-mail at jim.creech@lipscomb.edu, or by phone at 615.966.6659 or 800.333.4358 ext. 6659.

Lisa L. Crowe
Senior Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations

As a native Tennessean and Lipscomb alumna, Lisa is pleased to have recently joined the Development Staff as Senior Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations. Before coming to Lipscomb, she served in administrative and development positions at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, for almost 19 years. Her responsibilities at Lipscomb include developing and strengthening University relationships with businesses and foundations to address the mission and purposes of both. She may be reached by email at lisa.crowe@lipscomb.edu, or by phone at (615) 966-5239 or (800) 333-4358 ext. 5239.

Sonja L. Hayes
Director of Annual Giving & Special Programs

Sonja began working at Lipscomb in May 2007. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Middle Tennessee State University. She earned her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix. Sonja has over six years of experience in business-to-business sales. She has previously worked with large corporate accounts for Dell, Inc. She also generated sales for over 67 hospitals in a 6-state region for Misys Healthcare Systems in Tucson, AZ. Sonja's responsibilities include the Annual Fund, Calling Center, University Leadership Council, Parent Program, Family Fund, Take a Seat Campaign, and any other annual fundraising campaigns. She may be reached by email at sonja.hayes@lipscomb.edu, or by phone at (615) 966-5720 or (800) 333-4358 ext. 5720.

Brent R. High
Associate Director of Athletics for Development

After graduating from Lipscomb in 1996, Brent served as sports information director for Lipscomb and the TranSouth Athletic Conference until June of 1999. He served as play-by-play announcer for Lipscomb basketball and baseball games. Brent is best remembered for dramatically increasing attendance and creating atmospheres for basketball games that made opposing teams cringe. He created the "McQuiddy Maniacs" booster club for students that boasted 400 paying members at a school of 2500 students. He also launched the first-ever Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter at Lipscomb in 1997. Brent serves as President of Third Coast Sports, overseeing the daily sales and operations efforts. He coordinates all team partnerships and national sponsorship sales. Brent serves as a deacon over local outreach & evangelism at Brentwood Hills Church of Christ. He may be reached by email at brent.high@lipscomb.edu, or by phone at (615) 966-6179 or (800) 333-4358 ext. 6179.

Leslie Landiss
Executive Assistant to Dr. Bennie Harris

Leslie is a 1982 graduate of Lipscomb University with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. Before she and her husband, Shipley, started a family, she spent several years as a Research Assistant in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at Vanderbilt University. While her children were young, Leslie volunteered at the Rains Avenue Christian Care Center and David Lipscomb Campus School. She then spent several years working at Hillsboro church of Christ, first as the director of the Mother’s Day Out program and then as a member of the office staff. Leslie began working at Lipscomb in September 2003 in the Donor Records office, where she provided administrative and technical support. She now serves as Executive Assistant to Dr. Bennie Harris. Leslie may be reached by email at leslie.landiss@lipscomb.edu or by phone at (615) 966-6215 or (800) 333-4358 ext. 6215.

Dr. Jeff M. McCormack
Director of Development for Pharmacy

Dr. McCormack has held positions in clinical transplantation at Emory University and Baylor University Medical Center and has over twenty years experience in the healthcare industry. McCormack achieved board certification in histocompatability and immunogenetics. He has served as Laboratory Director of Micro Diagnostics. McCormack co-founded DigiScript and UBI Healthcare Solutions. He has served as a visiting professor at Lipscomb University from 1998-2007. McCormack is a 1983 graduate of Oklahoma Christian University with a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry. He received his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 1989. He may be reached by email at jeff.mccormack@lipscomb.edu, or by phone at (615) 966-7167 or (800) 333-4358 ext. 7167.

C. Scott Saunders
Major Gift Officer

Scott is a 1978 graduate of Lipscomb University. He began working with Lipscomb in 1985 following six years in the insurance industry. He attained the Certified Financial Planner designation in 1989. This has enhanced his ability to work with University friends, donors, and alumni in structuring financial plans and strategies to meet their needs as well as their objectives to support the University. He may be reached by e-mail at scott.saunders@lipscomb.edu, or by phone at 615.966.6214 or 800.333.4358 ext. 6214.

Sears, Laura Laura Y. Sears
Director, Associated Ladies for Lipscomb

Laura is a 1992 graduate of Lipscomb University with a bachelor's degree in Speech Communication and Public Relations. After serving as Communications Project Manager for CorporateFamily Solutions, Laura turned much of her attention to volunteer work while raising three young children. She worked with the Associated Ladies for Lipscomb for more than 10 years as a volunteer, particularly with events such as galas, fashion shows and marketplace events. She served as Vice President and President of the Nashville area chapter and has volunteered and chaired events for David Lipscomb Campus School, serving as co-president of the middle school Parent-Teacher Organization. She may be reached by email at laura.sears@lipscomb.edu and by phone at (615) 966-1963 or 800.333.4358 ext. 1963.

Paul W. Stovall
Director of Gift Planning

Paul began his Lipscomb career in May 2007 after 23 years in the insurance industry. He also served as a General Securities Registered Representative for the sale of investments. He graduated from Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN in 1987 with a degree in Business Administration. He became a Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner in 2003 after completing the CFP® certificate program at Belmont University. He has been very active in community and charitable organizations through the years. He serves as song leader and elder for the Maple Hill Church of Christ in Lebanon, TN. He and his wife, Lesa, have two children, Brianna and Brady. In his role as CFP® and Director of Planned Giving, Paul is able to assist the donor in making the best use of income and estate tax law while helping to further our mission to educate and “equip each graduate for leadership in the home, church and community.” He may be reached by email at paul.stovall@lipscomb.edu, or by phone at (615) 966-5251 or (800) 333-4358 ext. 5251.

Matt A. Sullivan
Research Analyst

Matt joined the Development team in November 2005. Matt had previously worked for UC Consultants, where he managed accounts for publicly-traded companies. Matt graduated from Lipscomb in 1995 and earned a Master’s degree at Northwestern University. While pursuing his graduate degree, Matt brokered entertainment software transactions for buyers and sellers across the globe. His responsibilities at Lipscomb include locating potential donors for the university and matching them with our development officers. He also briefs our staff members before meetings with donors. He may be reached by email at matt.sullivan@lipscomb.edu, or by phone at (615) 966-6209 or (800) 333-4358 ext. 6209.