On Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, Wofford College announced the launch of the public phase of the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the history of the college, “For Wofford: The Campaign for Wofford College,” with a goal of raising $300 million by October 2022.

“The For Wofford campaign provides essential support for a strategic vision that promises to make Wofford College more relevant and important to the world than ever before, while also remaining true to the values that always have shaped Wofford and all of us who call it home,” President Nayef Samhat says.

The college already has raised $262 million toward the overall campaign goal. Among the campaign’s notable accomplishments are the new Stewart H. Johnson Greek Village, the Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts, the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium and more than $32 million for endowed scholarships.

“Each gift is important to the campaign,” says Dr. David Wood, senior vice president for advancement. “Together, we have the extraordinary opportunity to demonstrate that we are For Wofford by affirming the college’s place as a premier, innovative and distinctive national liberal arts college defined by excellence, engagement and transformation.”

Four essential pillars of the Wofford experience serve as the key priorities of the For Wofford comprehensive fundraising campaign:

Excellence in Academics focuses on attracting and supporting faculty who will engage, educate and mentor students and provide academic program support to enhance the liberal arts experience. Support in this area will:

  • Establish additional endowed professorships.
  • Fund faculty development opportunities, workshops, conferences and academic travel.
  • Provide research startup funding and teacher-scholar support.
  • Generate support for collaborative and interdisciplinary courses, new course development and other curricular enhancements.

Student Opportunity in an Inclusive Community focuses on recruiting and retaining outstanding students and providing access to a superior liberal arts education through endowed scholarship funding. Support in this area will:

  • Expand academic merit scholarship awards.
  • Increase institutionally funded need-based grants.
  • Establish new artistic performance scholarships.
  • Increase athletics scholarship funding.

Distinctive Student Experiences focuses on supporting hands-on, experiential learning that occurs across fields, disciplines and programs designed to prepare superior students for meaningful lives as citizens, leaders and scholars. Support in this area will:

  • Expand research, internship and study abroad opportunities for students.
  • Support leadership and professional development opportunities for students.
  • Enhance advising resources for students, including a professional health careers advising program.
  • Strengthen the college’s wellness and student development programs and resources.

Our Historic Campus focuses on improving the physical campus to create dynamic learning and living spaces that encourage discovery and collaboration. Support in this area will:

  • Create an academic commons as part of the renovation of the Sandor Teszler Library.
  • Replace Black Science Annex with a new science center.
  • Renovate and enhance various buildings and facilities, such as the Campus Life Building, Daniel Building and various athletics facilities.
  • Update residence halls, including technology offerings, furniture and recreational areas.

Campaign Leadership

Dr. Danny Morrison ’75, Chair
Professor at the University of South Carolina, Sullivan's Island, S.C.

Chris Carpenter ’90, Vice Chair
Partner with Garrett McNatt Hennessey & Carpenter 360, Atlanta, Ga.

Mike James ’73, Ex-Officio, Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Former general partner in WEDGE Capital Management, Charlotte, N.C.

John Bauknight ’89
Founder of Longleaf Holdings USA, Spartanburg, S.C.

Jimmy Gibbs
Founder/owner of Gibbs International, Spartanburg, S.C.

Neel Hipp
Owner of Hipp Investments, Greenville, S.C.

Laura Hoy
Community volunteer, Surfside Beach, S.C.

Dr. Mary Keisler
Veterinarian with Cherokee Trail Veterinary Hospital, Lexington, S.C.

Wade Keisler ’80
Partner with Hawthorne Development Group, Lexington, S.C.

James Meadors ’81
President of Meadors Inc., Charleston, S.C.

Steven Mungo ’81
President and CEO of the Mungo Co., Charleston, S.C.

Ed Wile ’73
Retired senior vice president with UBS, Atlanta, Ga.

Joyce Payne Yette ’80
Chief legal officer with Promontory Financial Group, Washington, D.C.

By Ryann McCall '13