Serena Amerson to oversee Development & Alumni Relations
Serena Amerson, CFRE, Executive Director of Major Gifts and Annual Giving, will oversee Development & Alumni Relations beginning September 1, 2023.
Amerson will continue in this interim position as EVMS works to fill the leadership role held by Connie McKenzie. A search committee will be formed, and an executive search firm will be used to conduct a national search.
A Certified Fund Raising Executive, Amerson is a seasoned fundraising executive who came to EVMS in 2010. Since her arrival, she has raised nearly $55 million, including the establishment of two institutes, several academic honors, a fellowship, numerous scholarships, cancer research funds, funds to support geriatric initiatives and many other restricted gifts to benefit EVMS.
Amerson has extensive experience in non-profit management, including capital and marketing campaigns, public relations, strategic and development planning and grants management. Before joining EVMS, she was Chief Development Officer at ForKids, inc. and was Associate Director of Development at the Tidewater Jewish Foundation.
She holds an undergraduate degree in Marketing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a Master’s of Strategic Leadership from St. Bonaventure University.
Amerson is a former President and board member of the Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Hampton Roads Chapter and recipient of the chapter’s Outstanding Fundraising Professional award. She is also a member of the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) and was the 2021 AHP International Conference Chair. She is currently on the AHP Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging Content Committee.
Amerson is a graduate of LEAD Hampton Roads and the CIVIC Leadership Institute, a member of the Future of Hampton Roads and a member of the board of The Planning Council.