Wesleyan revamps Development Office, two Buckhannon natives take on fundraising roles

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – West Virginia Wesleyan College’s Chief Development and Marketing Officer announced today a reorganization of the college’s Development Office in an effort to expand alumni engagement and broaden the College’s donor base. To that end, the college has expanded its fundraising footprint with three Directors of Development who will work closely with the college’s Chief Development and Marketing Officer and who will be charged with growing the college’s engagement with alumni and current and prospective donors. 

“Building off of the strong track record of donor engagement, we look to further Wesleyan’s ability to cultivate and grow our relationships with alumni and friends of the college in a strategic way that supports the institution’s 130 years of excellence long into the future,” said Talley Sergent, Wesleyan’s Chief Development and Marketing Officer. “We look forward to engaging the current Wesleyan community – and growing it even more – with a robust focus on our alumni and donors.”

Sergent noted that each of the Directors of Development are uniquely positioned to excel in their new roles. Les Mallow of Bridgeport, Josh Stump and Lauren Queen, both of Buckhannon, make up the team of Development Directors. Along with Stump, Molly Patterson, also of Buckhannon and a long-time member of the Development team, will focus on alumni giving and engagement. A Junior Manager of Development with a focus on alumni programming will be announced in January. Rose Ellen Loudin, a mainstay of the Development operation, will serve as Chief of Staff and be charged with financial and administrative duties. 

To give to West Virginia Wesleyan, go online to: wvwc.edu/give

Les Mallow, Director of Development – Originally from Keyser, West Virginia, Les Mallow joined West Virginia Wesleyan College as a Director of Development in November 2020. Mallow will focus his efforts on cultivating new donors in the public and private sectors, including federal and state government grants, non-profit organization grants and corporate giving. He will also support current WVWC donors in their giving to the college.

Mallow most recently served as a law clerk for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals with the 21st Judicial Circuit under The Honorable James W. Courrier, Jr. Prior to this, Mallow served as an intern with the West Virginia Division of Tourism under the leadership of then-Tourism Commissioner Amy Goodwin. A first-generation college graduate, Mallow earned his Juris Doctor from the Appalachian School of Law and his undergraduate degree from West Virginia University. Mallow and his significant other, Madison, reside in Bridgeport.

Lauren Queen, Director of Development – Lauren Queen is a nine-year veteran of the College and the Development Office. She is now a Director of Development and engages with current and prospective donors. In addition, Queen works to expand Wesleyan’s community of generous donors. 

She is a graduate of West Virginia University and stays busy as a dedicated mother of two teenage daughters and a mini goldendoodle.

Josh Stump, Director of Development – Josh Stump, a Buckhannon native who grew up one block from the College, is a Director of Development who also oversees alumni engagement. Stump has served in a host of capacities during his two years at the college and will not only focus his development efforts on donors who are alumni, but also will lead a team to rebuild the college’s alumni engagement efforts. 

After earning his undergraduate degree from Marshall University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Saint Mary, he spent time in the nonprofit realm before entering higher education, where he has worked for the past decade. In addition to his duties at Wesleyan, Stump also serves as a leader at New Community Church. He resides in Buckhannon with his wife, Amberly ’06, and three children.

Molly Patterson, Manager of Development & The Emeritus Club – Molly Patterson, who has served in a host of capacities at West Virginia Wesleyan College since 1996, is a Manager of Development & The Emeritus Club. In this role, Patterson will focus her efforts on cultivating current and prospective donors who are also members of The Emeritus Club. Emeritus Club members are West Virginia Wesleyan alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago. Patterson will work with Josh Stump on alumni engagement efforts.

Patterson and her husband Kevin live in Buckhannon. They are the parents of two adult sons, Christopher ‘08 (Samantha) and Casey (Kaitlin), and the grandparents of four (soon to be five) grandchildren.

Rose Ellen Loudin, Chief of Staff – Rose Ellen Loudin, a 25-year veteran of West Virginia Wesleyan, is the Chief of Staff for the Office of Development. In this role, she is responsible for financial services, including donor support and accounting, as well as administrative duties.

She graduated from Wesleyan in 2003 as a nontraditional student with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations. She and her husband Chuck ‘95 live in Buckhannon and are the parents of two adult sons, Jonathan (Marie) and Adam ‘07 (Katie ‘07) and the grandparents of four grandchildren. 

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE

West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan one of its 2021 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan a “Top 20” Best Value – Regional Universities (South) and one of the “Top 75” Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students more than 40 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, and nursing; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 70 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.

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