Stace Mercier serves as the Executive Director of The University of Southern Mississippi Foundation. As such, Mercier guides and directs the USM Foundation through strategic leadership, talent management and board engagement. She is a leader in advancement strategy and focuses fundraising efforts to further the mission of The University of Southern Mississippi and the vision and priorities of its leadership. The USM Foundation strives to provide meaningful opportunities for philanthropy for the University’s alumni and friends. A donor-centered approach is engaged in every aspect of operations, from fundraising to communications. As a result, the USM Foundation has experienced exponential growth not only in fiscal assets, but also in furtherance of its mission to support the institution.

Since joining the USM Foundation in 2003, Mercier has served in various roles, including Chief Financial Officer, project manager to implement information systems, and interim Advancement Services Director.

A two-time graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi, Mercier has both a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accountancy and a Master of Professional Accountancy. As a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional, Mercier has also volunteered her time to assist other local nonprofit organizations. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants. She is an active member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), serving as a member of the College and University Foundations (formerly Institutionally Related Foundations) conference committee and speaker, as well as participating as a member of the College and University Foundations National Committee.

DeAnna has worked in higher-education non-profit for more than 30 years and became the CEO of the UND Alumni Association and the UND Foundation (two separate non-profit organizations) in January 2014.  During her first year, DeAnna led the two organizations through a successful merger.  Prior to becoming the CEO, DeAnna served as the Association Executive Vice President and the Campaign Director for the $324 million North Dakota Spirit Campaign.

 DeAnna started with the organization in 1986 and has served in a variety of roles during her tenure including events, annual giving, donor relations, marketing & communications, and development.  Additionally, she served as a regional marketing manager for Bremer Bank for four years.

 DeAnna holds her CFRE and serves on a number of University and Community Boards.  She also has been a leader in North Dakota with the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Christy Devocelle joined the Foundation in 1997.  As the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer (COO/CFO), she serves as a senior advisor to the UIF president and as Treasurer of the UIF board of directors— serving on the Budget & Finance, Audit, Investment Policy, Stewardship, Executive and Real Estate Special Advisory Committees of the Foundation Board.  Christy oversees UIF’s business development, strategy, and financial operations—including the ongoing development of, and compliance with, policies and procedures. She leads a team responsible for gift and real estate acceptance and administration, accounting and finance, information technology and governance, advancement services, human resources, and marketing and communications.

Additionally, Christy participates in a series of training sessions at the three universities regarding gift acceptance, donor intent compliance, endowment management, and administrative policies and procedures. Prior to joining the Foundation, Christy was employed in the banking industry. Christy is a financial accounting graduate of Illinois State University, completed her MBA at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and is a registered Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Lisa Gibert, CPA, MBA, CFRE, is the chief executive officer of Clark College Foundation.

Clark College Foundation is an independent, self-funded and self-governed nonprofit that assists Clark College through philanthropy and asset investment.

Under Gibert’s leadership for the last 16 years, Clark College Foundation’s total assets have increased by 85%—from $66 million in 2005 to $122 million as of June 2022. The scholarship dollars provided to Clark students have quadrupled during her tenure, with more than $1.2 million being awarded annually. Furthermore, $55 million in additional support has been distributed to the college since she has headed the nonprofit organization.

The market value of the foundation’s endowment is in the top 5 in the nation for public community colleges. Under her leadership, the foundation has raised nearly $60 million during fundraising campaigns.

In 2018, Gibert was selected as the one of the top fundraising leaders in the country by the Council for Advancement as Support of Education (CASE). She received the CASE Commonfund Institutionally Related Foundation Award, one of the fundraising industry’s most prestigious national honors for her 23-year career supporting advancement work at community colleges and higher education institutions across the country.

Gibert joined the Clark College Foundation in 1998, serving as the director of finance and administration, chief financial officer, and then interim president. In January 2005, she was appointed president/CEO.  In 2017, the foundation’s board of directors adjusted her title to CEO, while retaining her original duties.

As CEO she is responsible for strategic planning, goals setting and policy development, and works closely with the foundation’s philanthropic partners. She also oversees all foundation activities and staff, regularly interacts with the foundation’s board of directors and partners with Clark College’s administration to meet their fundraising needs.

Gibert earned a bachelor’s in business and finance from the University of Oregon and a master’s in business administration at the University of California at Irvine. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).

Her professional affiliations include the Association of Fundraising Professional, the Southwest Washington Estate Planning Council and Willamette Valley Development Officers Association.

She serves on the Vancouver Rotary Club Foundation Board of Directors. She is a member of the Council for the Advancement in Support of Education (CASE)  National Reporting Standards and Management Guidelines Committee and serves on the CASE North American Advisory Council.

Gibert is an accomplished equestrian who has earned several world and reserve-world titles in the paint and pinto breeds with her late horse, Silent Premonition.

Dr. Anthony Holloman was named Vice President University Advancement and Executive Director for the Fort Valley State University Foundation in June 2017.   Holloman is a 1992 graduate of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C., where he majored in communications. He also earned Master of Sports Science degree from the United States Sports Academy. He also holds a Certificate of Fund Raising Management from the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University and a Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership from Gwynedd Mercy University.  Holloman is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., 100 Black Men of America, Sigma Pi Phi and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Higher Education. He is also a member of the board of directors for the Georgia Chamber Commerce and is a newly appointed member of the board of directors for the Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce. Anthony has been a Rotarian since 2011, earning the Paul Harris Fellows distinction in Macon, GA, Orangeburg, SC and Tuscaloosa, AL. Holloman is a very active leader in the community, as well as, a speaker on various topics. He has given presentations which include the Naval Sea Systems Commands’ Diversity Summit (Transforming the Culture). He is married to Mrs. Maisah Holloman, who is a teacher at Win Academy, and they have three children – Brittany, Jordan and Tysan.