Susan L Hester

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Chancellor Johnson O. Akinleye appointed Ms. Susan Hester to serve as interim vice chancellor for Institutional Advancement. Her appointment began on January 8, 2020.

In this role, Ms. Hester oversees the division and manages the overall operation of fundraising efforts for the university. These efforts include engaging, stewarding, and cultivating partnerships with alumni, donors, community members, and corporate partners.

She joined NCCU two decades ago and has served in numerous roles, including managing all administrative initiatives involving Title III, Strategic Planning, Athletics, Public Relations, Accreditation, University Police, Internal Audit, and the Information Technology division. During Ms. Hester’s tenure at NCCU, she also served as interim vice chancellor, associate vice chancellor and director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for Institutional Advancement, and executive director of the NCCU Foundation.

Ms. Hester has more than 20 years of experience in management, fundraising, and marketing. She has comprehensive experience in all aspects of resource development, including relational fundraising, prospect identification, task and role description, budget management, staff development, strategic and operational planning, and volunteer management. 

A visionary and skillful organizer and communicator, she has been driven to link North Carolina Central University’s programs of distinction with strategic business objectives, research interests, and human resource needs within the broader corporate community. Ms. Hester also led NCCU’s successful “Invest in the Vision” $50 million capital campaign.

She has served as chief of staff under three chancellors and was the direct liaison for all major collaborative initiatives between the university and the greater Durham community.

In addition to her fundraising background, Ms. Hester has worked in corporate positions with Verizon (formerly GTE Mobile), Westinghouse, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke Medical Center, and the United Way. She began her fundraising career in annual giving and has worked in every capacity of the Institutional Advancement structure.

A Durham, NC, native, Ms. Hester received a Bachelor of Science in business administration from North Carolina A&T State University and a Master of Public Health in health policy and administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago.