Senior Director of Development to focus on major gifts
August 21, 2008
Bringing with him a knowledge of Atlanta's giving community and a knack for fundraising, John D. Harrison will join the Georgia State University College of Law this month as its senior director of development.
Harrison, an Atlanta native who has previously worked as a television sports producer for the UK's Channel 4 and started his own software company with two friends, is leaving a post as director of annual giving and alumni development at Wesleyan School in Norcross.
"As senior director of development at the College of Law, what I want to focus on is building a brand, along with building a process of fundraising for the law school," said Harrison, who will concentrate on major gifts. "It really is [about] going out and telling the story of what the law school is today and introducing those alumni back into the club."
The College of Law has about 3,700 alumni, 85 percent of which live within the metro Atlanta area. Since its inception 25 years ago, it has grown its enrollment from roughly 200 students to more than 600.
Harrison, who begins work at the College of Law Aug. 25, has led Wesleyan's ongoing $43 million capital campaign into its fifth of six years. The campaign has already raised $40 million, he said.
"As an Atlanta native, John is extremely knowledgeable about development opportunities in the area and simply loves the art of fund raising and donor cultivation," said College of Law Dean Steven J. Kaminshine. "He brings to the job an energy that is infectious and a strong record of accomplishment as a development officer, a businessman and television producer in the United Kingdom. We are delighted to have John on board and are confident we will make great progress in development under his leadership."
Harrison, whose favorite pastime is cooking, is also a sports enthusiast. In his television work, he split his time between Europe and the U.S., covering Wimbledon and French Open tennis as well as NFL games stateside.
He attended Baylor School in Chattanooga, and Mercer University in Macon, where he received a Bachelor of Science in communications. He and his wife, Kerri, have one daughter, Beth, who is 7.