Josh Kee
MAGNOLIA – Josh Kee was recently promoted to Assistant Vice-President for Development at Southern Arkansas University.
Effective July 1, 2014, Kee transitioned from his former position as Director of Major Gifts at SAU. He will now be responsible for the overall development activities of the University, and will continue to work closely with the SAU Foundation.
“It is a great honor to have the opportunity to work with the alumni and friends of SAU to impact the lives of our students,” said Kee. “Through the generosity of our constituents, SAU will accomplish many goals and reach a great deal of success.”
Kee said he is most excited to work with SAU’s loyal benefactors to accomplish the private fundraising goals of the University. He plans to continue a donor-centered approach to fundraising, which seeks to connect a donor’s interest with an institutional opportunity.
“Increasing our private support is essential as we seek to improve programs and enhance our offerings. Gifts allow SAU to go beyond the basics and offer our students a first-rate education that we have become known for,” said Kee.
The capital fundraising focus for this fiscal year will center on investment opportunities through SAU’s new engineering program. In doing so, Kee hopes to partner with those interested in ensuring SAU faculty and students have the most advanced technology and state-of-the-art equipment available.
Kee added that another opportunity this year will be to enhance existing athletic facilities. SAU reinstating its track and field program, so an initial effort will be to resurface the SAU track. Also in athletics, Kee hopes to raise funds to enhance the new softball complex with the addition of a locker room and coaches’ office facility, along with press-boxes for each softball field.
Kee also hopes to increase the number of annual supporters to the University.
“We emphasize education of alumni and current students on the importance and impacts of private philanthropy at SAU,” said Kee.
Kee has worked with alumni and friends of the SAU, raising funds for the University since 2004. He is also a Mulerider alum, earning his bachelor’s degree in 2002.
He is a 2014 Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District IV Board Member as Sponsorship Chair, and was a faculty member at the 2013 CASE Fall Fundraising Fundamentals/Introduction to Personal Solicitation Conference. He is a member of the SAU Staff Senate, on the Columbia County United Way Board, serving line coordinator for the Magnolia Blossom Festival, a past member of the Magnolia Chamber of Commerce Board, a past President of the Lions Club, on the Camp Canfield Board of Directors, and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
He is also lead singer for Crosspoint, a Christian group that travels much of Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma. He is married to Bekah (Burton) Kee, a 2005 SAU graduate, and they have two children: Shelby, 5, and infant Rhett.
Kee will be relocating in September from the SAU Welcome Center to Overstreet Hall. He can be reached at (870) 235-4321 or at JoshKee@SAUmag.edu.
