Office of
Because over 80% of Tarleton students receive some form of financial aid, scholarship funds play a critically important role in changing lives through education. Without these funds, a college education might not become reality for many students.
Alumni Engagement Coordinator
scouncil@tarleton.edu
254-968-9682
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
tvidmar@tarleton.edu
254-968-9890
Assistant VP for Engagement and Advancement Services
SHANSELMAN@tarleton.edu
254-986-1756
Shad Hanselman joined the Institutional Advancement Team as Assistant Vice President for Engagement and Advancement Services in August of 2021.
As part of the Leadership Team to the Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Shad provides leadership and strategy for the Tarleton Alumni Association, Office of Annual Giving, and Advancement Services Office. Shad also co-manages Tarleton’s Forward Together capital campaign.
Shad is an experienced fundraising professional dedicated to advancing the art and science of advancement. Since 2005 he has focused his career on analyzing development and scrutinizing longstanding fundraising traditions in order to develop a new advancement philosophy along with solutions to evolve and elevate engagement and fundraising.
Before coming to Tarleton, Shad spent four years as the Vice President for Fundraising Product Strategy at Ruffalo Noel Levitz where he helped usher in AI-powered intelligence and integrated omnichannel engagement in higher-education advancement. He previously spent more than a decade leading higher education annual giving programs including stints at Western Michigan University, Northern Illinois University, and most recently as the Assistant Vice President of Development Advancement with the ASU Foundation for a New American University at Arizona State University. In the later role, Shad and his team pioneered giving days, crowdfunding, recurring credit cards, and personalized videos.
Mr. Hanselman holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from Michigan State University. He is married to Kate Hanselman, a Consultant for the Banner Health System. The two live in Stephenville with their daughter, Kaylee.
Gifts Coordinator
LJSMITH@tarleton.edu
254-986-1981
Janae began working at Tarleton in 2016 with the Business Services office. After 5 years working with student accounts, accounts payable, and travel she joined the Advancement Services team in January 2022. Her roots are firmly planted in Stephenville Texas as she was raised on a family farm just 10 miles out of town. She has always been a first-generation student champion and is excited to be a part of Tarleton’s mission and growth.
Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development
mgilstorf@tarleton.edu
Gilstorf comes to Tarleton after spending the last eight years at West Virginia University, where he served as a major gifts officer and was promoted to Director of Development for the athletics department.
In his role with the Mountaineers, he contributed to receiving commitments of over $100 million in capital support for facility projects. Gilstorf was a key contributor in planning and organizing the $100 million 'Climbing Higher' athletics facility campaign and he secured the largest seven-figure gift in the history of the WVU gymnastics program.
In addition to major gifts, Gilstorf collaborated with the Mountaineer Athletic Club (MAC) team to assist in growing the annual fund and raising over $120 million. He also oversaw the $50 million athletics endowment program, which grew by $13 million during his eight years in Morgantown. He also assisted donors with annual fund contributions, season tickets and parking requests while also serving as the fundraising liaison to the gymnastics and rowing teams.
Prior to his time at West Virginia, Gilstorf spent over two years at East Carolina University as the Assistant Director of Development for the Pirate Club. During his time at ECU, he helped raise a two-year record $13 million of annual fund donations. He oversaw 15 regional chapters by managing annual fund renewals for each chapter and redesigned the 'Young Grad' program and watched it grow over half in his two-year tenure.
Gilstorf broke into the industry with the University of Tennessee – his alma mater – as an athletics development assistant, where he raised money for the annual fund and played a key role in facility capital campaigns. As an undergraduate student in Knoxville, he was a manager for the men's basketball team. He received his bachelor's degree from Tennessee in sociology and a master's degree in sports management from West Virginia University.
A native of Perrysburg, Ohio, Gilstorf and his partner, Jennie, are the parents of two children, Grace and Gabriel.
Assistant Vice President for Development
jcolley@tarleton.edu
254-459-5461
Jennifer Colley joined the Institutional Advancement Team as Assistant Vice President for Development on June 1, 2021.
As part of the Leadership Team to the Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Jennifer will provide leadership and strategy for all university fundraising activities, oversee the major gifts team, work with all businesses/foundations interested in supporting Tarleton philanthropically, and help manage all capital campaigns.
Prior to joining the team at Tarleton State University, Colley served as the Executive Director/Associate Athletics Director of The Frog Club at Texas Christian University where she was responsible for all aspects of the annual fund. The team raised $13 million in annual funds and over $28 million in overall giving while successfully completing a $60 million fundraising goal in six months for the Amon G. Carter Stadium Expansion Project. She also served on the Advancement Leadership Team and the Internal Committee for Campaign Planning for TCU’s $1 Billion Campaign.
Colley’s prior experience includes 22 years of service with The Longhorn Foundation at The University of Texas where she was responsible for all external relations of The Longhorn Foundation including gift solicitation, donor relations, annual giving campaigns, special events, volunteer boards and providing customer service strategies to maintain over 12,000 donors giving over $36 million. She directed and increased membership for 10 statewide public relations clubs established to build a pipeline of donor prospects and engagement. She served on the team responsible for developing The University of Texas Intercollegiate Athletics Strategic Plan.
Colley earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Tourism Management from Northeastern Oklahoma State University. She is married to Dr. Terry Colley who retired from the State of Texas as the Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Historical Commission. They have two grown children, Travis and Kate, and make their home in Stephenville.
Assistant Director, Prospect Research
aflynt@tarleton.edu
254-968-1755
Amy graduated from Tarleton in 2005 with a degree in Liberal Studies. She returned in 2015 as the Prospect Researcher. She enjoys being able to connect alumni back to the university. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family.
Director of Annual Giving
clbrown@tarleton.edu
254-968-9699
Cori started working at Tarleton in 2009 as a student recruiter in the Welcome Center and Office of School Relations. She joined the Development Team in 2011 and serves as the development officer for annual giving. Cori's primary responsibilities are the President's Circle and other responsibilies such as Tarleton Fund which includes direct mail, phonathon, 1899 Circle, Faculty & Staff Giving and student philanthropy programs. Cori received her Bachelor's degree in Animal Science from Tarleton in 2008.
Director of Alumni Engagement
TCONDON@tarleton.edu
682-703-7105
Tami is thrilled to be serving the College of Education and Human Development and the College of Health Sciences & Human Services to support a flourishing and engaged donor base. Before coming to Tarleton in the spring of 2021, Tami served in a variety of leadership roles within higher education and medical nonprofit organizations. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Andrews University. Her husband, Lloyd, is an architect in Fort Worth and they are the proud parents of two adult children, Jess and Josh.
Administrative Assistant, Tarleton State University Foundation, Inc.
pmclerran@tarleton.edu
254-968-1872
§ Pam McLerran is a recent addition to the Tarleton State University Foundation after moving to Stephenville in 2019. Pam has extensive experience working with non-profit organizations in Arkansas, Georgia, and here in Texas. She is excited to join the team here at Tarleton filling the Administrative Assistant role with the Foundation. She is a graduate of Capital City Business College in Arkansas and currently serves on the Board at Transformation Pathway CWJC/CMJC and assists on projects for Project 82 Kenya.
Assistant Professor & W.K. Gordon Chair of Texas History
Dept. of History, Sociology and Geography/GIS
dliles@tarleton.edu
254-968-9305
Deborah Liles, Ph.D. teaches the history of Texas, local communities, the United States, women, ranching, and slavery and works with the W.K. Gordon Center. She is the author or editor of several award-winning books and articles, and she serves on the boards of different history associations throughout the state. Current manuscripts in progress are a biography of Oliver Loving, a cattleman in Texas, and a critical examination of the connection between the livestock industry and slave owning in the antebellum and Civil War South.
Social Media and Marketing Assistant, W.K. Gordon Center
lhart@tarleton.edu
254-968-1886
Local Texan and current student, Lea has been at the W.K. Gordon Center since 2014 as a student intern and now an employee. Lea is seeking her Bachelor’s degree in History at Tarleton State University and works as the W.K. Gordon Center’s Social Media and Marketing Assistant. Lea is one of your first lines of contact at the W.K. Gordon Center and is happy to answer any questions you may have about the W.K. Gordon Center, Thurber, or the surrounding area.
Curator of Education and Exhibits, W.K. Gordon Center
sgoodman@tarleton.edu
254-968-9330
Sue’s alma mater is Southern Methodist University where she earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education. She has served as an educator in settings that include public schools, private schools, and museums. Her service in higher education includes institutional advancement at Texas Tech and University of Arizona. While working as a Community Relations Officer at Tarleton she served as advisor for Tarleton Ambassadors, leading them through several years of fundraising to create The Tarleton Ambassadors’ Core Values Endowed Scholarship. She brings energy, creativity and experience to her current position at the W. K. Gordon Museum.
Director & Curator of Collections, W.K. Gordon Center
MKAdams@tarleton.edu
254-968-1886
Mary Adams began her career at Tarleton at the W. K. Gordon Center in June of 2012 as the Facilities Manager and Curator of Collections. She transitioned to Director and Curator of Collections in April of 2018. Mary received both her Bachelor’s Degree in History and her Masters of History with emphasis on Museum Studies from Tarleton State University.
Advancement Services Assistant
adavenport@tarleton.edu
Ashley joined the Advancement Services team as a student worker in 2017. She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance, with a minor in Business in the spring of 2021.
Director of Advancement Services
ebouquet@tarleton.edu
254-968-9948
Emma has been a member of the Institutional Advancement team since 2012 when she started working in Annual Giving. In 2013 she transferred to Advancement Services and has served in her current role as Director of Advancement Services since 2015. Emma is a two-time Tarleton alumnus with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration (2009) and a Master’s of Business Administration (2018).
Executive Director of Development, Annual Giving
joannides@tarleton.edu
254-968-9076
Andrew came to Tarleton State in January 2021 to serve as the Senior Director of Development focusing specifically on the Annual Fund. He was elevated to Executive Director in July of 2021. Andrew came to Tarleton from Northern Illinois University after nearly a decade in intercollegiate athletics at other institutions such as Arizona State University, University of Tennessee at Martin, UNLV and the University of Wyoming. Andrew’s current responsibilities entail the oversight of the annual fund with a focus on increasing donor base along with generating revenue. Andrew works directly with the College of Business, College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, Corp of Cadets, and Tarleton Rodeo. Andrew was born and raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming and received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming and his Master’s degree from Liberty University.
Director of Alumni Engagement
jevans@tarleton.edu
254-968-9682
Jessica Evans graduated from Tarleton State University in 2003 with a Bachelor’s in Communications and 2006 with a Master’s in Human Resource Management. She has worked for the Division of Institutional Advancement since 2009 and was instrumental in helping to rebuild the Tarleton Alumni Association. Her proudest accomplishment to date is helping to raise $500,000 in scholarships from membership dues.
Development Officer, College of Agriculture & Environmental Science and Student Affairs
waddell@tarleton.edu
254-968-1840
Bobby is a ’00 and ‘02 Tarleton graduate in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and spent almost 20 years in Student Affairs before joining the Institutional Advancement team in 2018. He and his wife, Dr. Jolena Waddell, have two sons who enjoy youth sports and attending Tarleton events.
Associate Director of Development, College of Business + College of Graduate Studies
mmourer@tarleton.edu
817-717-3314
Mark Mourer joined the Tarleton State University Institutional Advancement team in early 2021, bringing with him a dozen years of higher education and community fundraising experience. He’s also worked in sales and business development for international companies as well as start-ups, and has lived in and around Fort Worth for 30 years. An advocate for continuing education, he earned his master’s degree in journalism by researching the early career of renowned sports writer Dan Jenkins. Mark and his wife, a nurse manager at Cook Children’s Hospital, are the proud parents of two daughters.
Executive Assistant, Development and Advancement Services
rharrison@tarleton.edu
254-968-9769
Ruth joined the Institutional Advancement team in 2018 after moving to Texas from Roseville, California. Although she is a Texas native, she spent most of her childhood and adolescence in Spain as the daughter of missionaries. She earned her BA in Psychology from California State University, Fresno with a minor in Music – Vocal Performance. Ruth has been married to Mike Harrison for 36 years and they have three daughters: Grace, 21, Abby & Emalie, 18. When she’s not here at Tarleton, Ruth enjoys spending time with friends and family and serving at her church, Stonewater Church in Granbury.
Executive Assistant and Budget Analyst to the Vice President of Institutional Advancement
hanson@tarleton.edu
254-968-9890
Sara Hanson serves as the Executive Assistant and Budget Analyst to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement. Since 2015, she has played a major role as a member of the Vice President’s Leadership Team and is the Human Resource Contact for Institutional Advancement. Sara also serves as the Division’s representative for the University Budget Council and the Logistics Lead on the Tarleton Strategic Planning Committee. Both Sara and her husband are Tarleton Alumni and continue to support the university through scholarships and donations
Assistant Vice President, Advancement & External Relations
sguerra@tarelton.edu
254-968-9770
Sabra is a graduate of Tarleton with a degree in communications and has worked for the university since 1989. She worked in what was then the College of Education and Human Development and Fine Arts, in placement and school relations and in the president’s office before joining institutional advancement in 1992, during the infancy of the division. Sabra became the division’s director of development in 2006, assistant vice president in 2011 and earned the Certified Fundraising Executive credential in 2012.
Vice President, Institutional Advancement
cagwin@tarleton.edu
254-968-9890
Dr. Gabe Cagwin, who joined Tarleton State University in September, serves as the new Vice President for Institutional Advancement.
As part of Tarleton’s Executive Cabinet, Gabe will provide strategic oversight to development and fundraising, advancement services, alumni engagement and university event management. One of his main goals will be to lead and bring a new perspective that will help us launch the largest capital campaign in our school’s history. Our goal of raising $100 million will enhance access, opportunity and innovation at Tarleton.
Prior to joining Tarleton, Gabe was a member of Arizona State’s leadership team since 2012, where he started as the Associate Athletic Director, was promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Director, and then a year later, promoted to Chief Business Development Officer. He oversaw the fundraising campaign for the $306 million Sun Devil Stadium renovation, managed all capital campaigns, helped manage ASU’s 330-acre Athletics District to monetize university land and provide assets for the community, increased donor count from 8,500 to over 16,000, and took their fundraising from raising around $8M a year to consistently topping $46M annually with a high of $86M.
Before joining ASU, Gabe served as Director of Major Gifts at UCLA and was then promoted to Assistant Athletic Director where he lead their $135 million campaign to renovate Pauley Pavilion. He also had stints at Penn State University and University of Tulsa.
Gabe played Division I basketball at the University at Buffalo, where he graduated magna cum laude with his Bachelor’s degree in 2002, his Master’s degree in higher education in 2004, and then his Ph.D. in higher education administration in 2006, all from the University at Buffalo. He and his wife Angela have 2 boys, Cash and Caden, who are 26 months and 7 months old.
Executive Director, Tarleton Foundation, Inc.
abaker@tarleton.edu
254-968-9421
Ashleah began her time at Tarleton in 2003 in the Office of Development. In 2008, she joined the Tarleton State University Foundation, Inc. and serves as Administrator. Ashleah’s primary responsibility is the operation of the Foundation and coordination of a 12-member board of directors. Additionally, she is responsible for the administration of planned giving activities. Ashleah is a Tarleton graduate, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 2004.
Director of Development
wdavenport@tarleton.edu
254-968-1744
Wayne started working at Tarleton in 2015 in his present position, he serves as the director of development. Wayne’s primary responsibilities are planning, coordinating, and implementing Tarleton’s individual major gift program to meet the university’s fundraising goals and build the individual donor base for the College of Science and Technology. Wayne received his Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science and Technology along with his teacher certification in secondary Agriculture in 2003 and his Master’s degree in Animal Science in 2005 from Texas A&M University-Commerce.
Associate Director of Development, Annual Giving
fender@tarleton.edu
254-968-9771
Callie started working at Tarleton in 2017 in her present position. She serves as the assistant director of development for annual giving, Callie’s primary responsibilities are planning, coordinating, and sustaining Tarleton’s Dean’s Circle giving program to meet the university’s academic colleges’ fundraising goals and building the individual donor base. Callie also focuses on fundraising for special programs within each college. Callie received her Bachelor's degree from Tarleton in Communication Studies: Public Relations and Event Management in 2012.
Director of Annual Giving
clbrown@tarleton.edu
254-968-9699
Cori started working at Tarleton in 2009 as a student recruiter in the Welcome Center and Office of School Relations. She joined the Development Team in 2011 and serves as the development officer for annual giving. Cori's primary responsibilities are the President's Circle and other responsibilies such as Tarleton Fund which includes direct mail, phonathon, 1899 Circle, Faculty & Staff Giving and student philanthropy programs. Cori received her Bachelor's degree in Animal Science from Tarleton in 2008.
Executive Director of Development – University Arts & Culture, Planned Giving Specialist
jhorak@tarleton.edu
254-968-9857
Janice has been with Tarleton since 1996, originally serving as director for the Dora Lee Langdon Cultural and Educational Center in Granbury and later moving to the Stephenville campus as director of community relations. In 2011, she was promoted to assistant vice president for external relations, now serves as “Executive Director of Development” and leads the planned giving program. Janice has served on the boards of directors for the Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council, Preserve Granbury, Slumber Falls Camp and the Granbury Chamber of Commerce among others. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Speech from Trinity University in 1985. She cohosts a weekly jazz show on KTRL- Tarleton Public Radio and is a member of the President's Circle and the KTRL Leadership Circle.