Pulse

Connie McKenzie to step down as VP of Development, Alumni Relations

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Connie McKenzie

Connie McKenzie, MSW, CFRE, will be stepping down as Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations. Her last day at EVMS will be September 1.

McKenzie’s work has resulted in more than $150 million in charitable donations to EVMS since her arrival in 2009. She has overseen the establishment of 76 new student scholarships (scholarships donations over the last six years exceed those raised in the previous 44 years), 10 new academic honors and the naming of Waitzer Hall. She completed the latest campaign, a six-year capital program, raising $86 million — well over twice the original goal. And, McKenzie played a role in establishing the M. Foscue Brock Institute for Community and Global Health, the Leroy T. Canoles Cancer Research Center, the L.D. Britt Scholars, the Lawrence J. Goldrich Institute for Integrated Neurohealth, the Fine Family Academy of Educators and full philanthropic funding for the HOPES Free Clinic.

McKenzie and her team, on behalf of EVMS, received the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Hampton Roads’ 2013 National Philanthropy Day Award for Outstanding Non-profit in Fundraising. McKenzie was subsequently awarded the AFP – HR’s Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award in 2014. That same year, she also was honored by EVMS with the President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement.

During her tenure at EVMS, McKenzie was recognized by Inside Business as a Top Forty Under 40 honoree and was chosen for the Inside Business 2022 Women in Business awards.

McKenzie is a member of the United Way’s Women United Ten for 10 class of 2023, a mentor of first-generation female students through ODU’s Women Initiative Network and a member of the board of the Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic Foundation. She is a past President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Hampton Roads and Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Inc.

A national search will be conducted for EVMS’s next Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations. The search committee will be comprised of Board of Trustees and community members along with Senior Management. During this time, Serena Amerson will manage the department in her role as Executive Director.