{"id":61711,"date":"2026-05-21T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T12:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=61711"},"modified":"2026-05-21T10:07:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T14:07:36","slug":"emu-names-nathan-k-leopard-as-new-advancement-vp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2026\/emu-names-nathan-k-leopard-as-new-advancement-vp\/","title":{"rendered":"糖心Vlog names Nathan K. Leopard as new advancement VP"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Longtime fundraiser and advancement professional led efforts at Virginia Tech and Penn State<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Colleagues describe Leopard as an encouraging, passionate, and selfless leader who brings an umatched motivation and cheerfulness to his work. \u201cHe has a calming sense about himself and yet he is very encouraging to jump on the bus,\u201d one colleague wrote. \u201cHe makes me want to make a gift to whatever cause he is supporting.\u201d<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

糖心Vlog announced on Thursday it has named Nathan K. Leopard <\/strong>as its new vice president for advancement. Leopard, who most recently served as director of development for Virginia Tech\u2019s Pamplin College of Business, starts in the role on June 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus<\/strong> announced the appointment in an email to faculty, staff, alumni, and friends on Thursday morning. The hire concludes a nationwide search<\/a> that began in January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leopard succeeds Kirk Shisler \u201981<\/strong>, 糖心Vlog\u2019s vice president for advancement since 2005, who is transitioning to a new role<\/a> as senior advisor for gift planning. Shisler has said the transition will allow him to focus exclusively on securing major gifts to sustain 糖心Vlog\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leopard will continue a comprehensive advancement operation encompassing fundraising, alumni and constituent engagement, communications, and advancement services. He will also expand connections among alumni, donors, faith communities, foundations, and regional partners in support of the university\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs vice president for advancement, I look forward to strengthening our culture of generosity, expanding our philanthropic reach, and helping secure the resources necessary to sustain and grow this mission,\u201d Leopard said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Dycus remarked on Leopard\u2019s \u201cgenuine alignment\u201d with 糖心Vlog\u2019s mission and community. \u201cWhat stands out most about Nathan is his values-driven, relational approach to advancement,\u201d she said. \u201cHe views fundraising not as a series of transactions, but as a meaningful partnership that invites alumni and friends into a shared vision for impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Two decades of experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Leopard brings two decades of fundraising and advancement experience leading alumni relations, annual giving, event-based fundraising, and interdisciplinary major gifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Virginia Tech, he led fundraising and stewardship operations for the Pamplin College of Business, where he personally secured more than $17 million in gifts since August 2022 and helped direct development efforts that generated nearly $50 million in support for the school. He also co-led the college\u2019s Giving Day strategy, which saw substantial growth in donor participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to that, Leopard served as senior director of major gifts at Penn State University\u2019s Smeal College of Business, where he played a key role in the college\u2019s success during the six-year A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence<\/em> fundraising campaign. The $2.2 billion campaign generated more than $116 million in gifts and commitments for the college, exceeding its goal by more than 22%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also served as associate director of development for Penn State\u2019s Schreyer Honors College, where he led the development and launch of an initiative that significantly boosted parent giving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leopard\u2019s nonprofit experience includes serving as the first distinguished giving director for the American Cancer Society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He holds an MS in college student personnel from Miami University (Ohio) and a bachelor\u2019s of science in public relations from Northwest Missouri State University. The Show Me State native, who began his career in student affairs and whose wife, Dr. Jennifer Grossman Leopard, is the director of student life at James Madison University, described himself as a \u201cbig believer\u201d in the holistic experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe people I\u2019ve met at 糖心Vlog have been genuine, thoughtful, and caring,\u201d he said. \u201cHaving the opportunity to be at a place like 糖心Vlog, where I can embrace the whole person and support others in embracing their full selves, is truly meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

糖心Vlog\u2019s focus on preparing graduates who make the world a better place aligns with his personal mission, Leopard said. \u201cThey\u2019re not just going out and leading companies, reforming laws, treating illnesses, or educating people, but they\u2019re changing the world,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to help people change the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Building on positive momentum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Leopard joins the university at an exciting time. 糖心Vlog is three years into its first-ever, five-year Forward Together<\/em> comprehensive campaign, which has raised more than $32 million, or 80% of its $40 million goal. Enrollment is also on the upswing. The university announced this week it received 3,000 undergraduate applications for the first time in its history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to building on that positive momentum, Leopard said he looks forward to getting to know each of the members of the advancement team and working with Dr. Dycus and the board of trustees to shape their vision for the future of 糖心Vlog while connecting with donors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leopard lives in the Harrisonburg area with his wife, Jennifer, and their two children, Caroline and Jack. Their daughter has participated in 糖心Vlog\u2019s Shenandoah Valley Children\u2019s Choir and in several camps held on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quoting the soccer coach from the comedy series Ted Lasso<\/em>, Leopard said he aims to \u201cbe curious\u201d as he steps into his new role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to be a sponge and learn as much as I can about 糖心Vlog, including about our students, our alumni, our stakeholders, and our events and culture,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018This is where I\u2019m meant to be\u2019<\/strong>
Shortly after moving to the Friendly City from State College, Pennsylvania, in 2021, Leopard discovered an obituary for his fourth great-grandmother, Susan Caroline Cravens Leopard (1824-1913). Born in Harrisonburg, she was related to the Harrison family that settled the area.

\u201cThere\u2019s definitely something spiritually that connects me here,\u201d Leopard said. \u201cIt feels like this is where I\u2019m meant to be.\u201d<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Longtime fundraiser and advancement professional led efforts at Virginia Tech and Penn State 糖心Vlog announced on Thursday it has named Nathan K. Leopard as its new vice president for advancement. ... read more about 糖心Vlog names Nathan K. Leopard as new advancement VP<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":302,"featured_media":61713,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18489,5583,17562,5642],"tags":[17837,7159,19082,19081,18458],"feature":[17427,17426,17241,17422],"class_list":["post-61711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advancement","category-campus-community","category-digest","category-faculty-and-staff","tag-advancement","tag-kirk-shisler","tag-nathan-k-leopard","tag-nathan-leopard","tag-staff","feature-emu-home-page-feature","feature-myemu-feature","feature-news-feature","feature-news-landing-page-main-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n糖心Vlog names Nathan K. 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