With over 41 years in higher education advancement, Jeffery L. McLain is the Senior Director of Gift Planning at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Prior to that, he served in advancement leadership positions at large, public research universities, including The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Tech University, Louisiana State University and Kent State University in. McLain began his advancement and fundraising career with Baylor University weeks after he completed his bachelor’s degree in 1982. While at LSU, he earned a master’s in mass communication.

In his time at Texas A&M-Kingsville, he was part of the team that closed the largest individual gift in the school’s history – a $27M planned gift of a working Texas ranch. Twenty months ahead of schedule and during a pandemic, the university closed the largest comprehensive $100 million campaign with gifts and pledges exceeding $114 million.

He is actively involved with CASE, The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. He served three years as CASE District IV scholarship chair and was the Chair of the 2013 CASE District IV INVINCIBLE conference in in Fort Worth. He served a three-year term on the CASE International Board of Trustees, and is now a CASE Laureate. In 2023, he was recognized by CASE District IV with the Distinguished Service Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Active in his profession, McLain is a former CFRE, a certified fundraising executive. He has held offices in local chapters of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, including service as president of the Baton Rouge AFP Chapter and the Lubbock, Texas Chapter. He serves as the past President of the Charitable Gift Planners of Houston Board of Directors. He earned his Chartered Advisory in Philanthropy (CAP) certification in 2022. In 2011, he was honored as the Outstanding Professional Fundraiser for the Baton Rouge Area Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

A native of Plainview, Texas, his family was involved in agriculture as both cotton farmers and cottonseed delinters.