BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – West Virginia Wesleyan College President Dr. James Moore announced this week that Kristi Lawrence Wilkerson ’99 will serve as Interim Vice President for Advancement beginning in July.

Wilkerson will provide experienced leadership to the Advancement and Alumni Relations team as the college embarks on a national search for its next Vice President for Advancement. The college hopes to conclude the search by October of 2023. Wilkerson previously served as West Virginia Wesleyan’s Director of Alumni Relations from 2008-2015.

Wilkerson is excited to begin work with the Executive Leadership Team at the college.

“I am deeply honored for the opportunity to serve my alma mater as Interim Vice President for Advancement,” she said. “I have a deep love for Wesleyan and am excited to reconnect with alumni, donors, and the campus community. I am especially excited to become reacquainted with alumni friends from my days of serving as Director of Alumni Relations.

“I look forward to working with President James Moore, the alumni and advancement staff, and other colleagues at WVWC. I have long respected and appreciated Dr. Moore’s leadership and it is a true privilege to join his team. I am grateful to Dr. Moore and the college’s Trustees for this tremendous opportunity to return to my home among the hills and give back to the institution that transformed my life more than two decades ago.”

Wilkerson has served as Executive Director of the Upshur Parish House and Crosslines since July 2019. She has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, public relations and strategic communication, and she is a past president of Independent College Advancement Associates. She also previously served as Director of Christian Education and Programming at First United Methodist Church (2015-2019), and as Associate Director of West Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities (2003-2008).

Wilkerson received her bachelor’s degree from WV Wesleyan and her master’s degree from Miami University, located in Oxford, Ohio. She resides in Buckhannon with her husband Curtis ’99 and children Rebekah and Grant.

President Moore is ready to welcome Wilkerson to the team.

“I am both grateful and thankful that Kristi has agreed to join my team temporarily and serve her alma mater,” he said. “As a young faculty member, I learned the importance of the work of advancement and the high value that Wesleyan alums place in our college from Kristi. I also want to thank our friends and neighbors at the Upshur Parish House for agreeing to allow Kristi step out of her role there to serve Wesleyan in this interim role.”