Hodge appointed senior director of development-alumni affairs

COE Dean Catherine Emihovich has announced the appointment  of Matthew (Matt) Hodge to the new position of senior director of development and alumni affairs at the College of Education.

Hodge has more than 15 years of higher education fundraising experience, serving for the past five years as vice president for institutional advancement at Seminole State College (formerly Seminole Community College).

Hodge joins COE Development Director Nekita Nesmith, Development Assistant Debra Lee and Alumni Affairs/Events Coordinator Jodi Mount to form a dynamic professional staff that will stabilize and strengthen the college’s fundraising and alumni relations efforts, which are particularly crucial during these difficult economic times.

Hodge will focus on planning and implementing the college’s fundraising and alumni activities. Nesmith will continue to cultivate and solicit major gifts of $100,000 or more. Hodge will manage a group of prospects while guiding the strategic focus of the office to best serve the college’s needs.

The college also welcomes new D&AA support staff members Ambrya Baldwin (office assistant) and Barb Yaney (senior secretary). Barb recently transferred from the dean’s office to provide needed clerical support for both Development and News and Communications, under Larry Lansford’s direction.

Prior to working for Seminole State, Hodge worked with the University of Central Florida Foundation for 10 years. He also has served as a consultant for the Florida Hospital Foundation, and began his career with a student position within the University of Florida Foundation. He has a bachelor’s degree in advertising from UF, a master’s in public administration from UCF, and in 2006 received his Ph.D. in public affairs, also from UCF. Matt is joined by wife Erin (who is assistant vice president of development at Rollins College in Winter Park) and his two children Alex (8) and Maggie (6).