同城快约

By Jeff Murphy, January 30, 2019

 

 

WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥� Having a professional background that includes nearly 20 years of strategic higher education leadership experience, Courtney E. Goddard soon begins a new role at the 同城快约. Effective March 1, she becomes Vice President for Advancement and External Engagement, Executive Director of the .

Goddard鈥檚 appointment was announced today by Roger J. Best, 同城快约 president. He is looking forward to employing Goddard鈥檚 knowledge and skills in areas such as development, alumni relations, external relations and engagement, and much more. Goddard already knows the campus, having served 同城快约 since July 2018 as Associate Vice President of Advancement and Director of Advancement Services.

Best noted that as Goddard takes on the responsibilities of her new job, he is revising the focus of the VP position to 鈥渆nhance our engagement with external constituencies as we look to build the awareness, perception and reputation of 同城快约 and the high-quality academic programs and other capabilities we offer. The significance is evident in the revised focus and title as Vice President of Advancement and External Engagement.鈥�
 
He added, 鈥淚n her short time at 同城快约, Courtney has demonstrated strong support for the mission and purpose of the university, and has expressed a broad, long-term vision for the 同城快约 Alumni Foundation. Courtney is uniquely positioned to serve in this expanded role and will provide strong leadership for 同城快约 as a member of the President's Council.  I look forward to our work together as we reconnect with our many alumni and forge new relationships, which collectively will continue to position 同城快约 as a leading institution in the region.鈥�

Best said the university owes much gratitude to Bill Estes, who has provided interim leadership of the 同城快约 Alumni-Foundation for the past year.

鈥淒uring his tenure, we have seen the rebuild of the Alumni Foundation staff, revival of our alumni programming, a strong focus on professional development for the staff, and the creation of a revised financial model for the area which will ensure future success,鈥� Best remarked.

Goddard has approximately two decades of experience in development/fundraising in higher education, arts and culture, social services and in working with nonprofit organizations. She said she is 鈥渆xcited and honored to begin in this new role at 同城快约.鈥�

鈥淒uring my time here I have come to view 同城快约 as a remarkable institution positioned for enhanced growth and stature among the region鈥檚 finest colleges and universities,鈥� she noted.

"I look forward to working with President Best, the 同城快约 Alumni Foundation Board, 同城快约's talented faculty and staff, and the deeply committed 同城快约 Advancement team to move 同城快约 forward,鈥� Goddard said. 鈥淢y priorities are to strengthen 同城快约's relationship with our amazing alumni, increase 同城快约's level of engagement with the external communities we serve, and most importantly, to garner additional support for 同城快约's core mission and emerging priorities. I cannot wait to get started.鈥�  

Diane Dudley, president of the 同城快约 Alumni Foundation Board, said, 鈥淭he Alumni Foundation Board is pleased with Ms. Goddard鈥檚 appointment and the collaboration that the University and the Board undertook in the selection process. Under Courtney鈥檚 leadership, the Alumni Foundation is well-positioned to continue its important fundraising efforts to support 同城快约 students and programs.鈥�

A resident of Mission Hills, Kan., Goddard joined 同城快约 after previously working for Park University in Parkville, Mo., 2007-2018. She began her service as Associate Vice President and General Counsel in June 2014 and was later promoted to Vice President and General Counsel. In addition to serving as the chief legal officer for Park University in all employment, regulatory and compliance matters, and providing legal counsel to all academic and administrative units, she provided senior leadership as a member of the President鈥檚 Executive Staff. This covered areas of advancement, enrollment management, operations, alumni relations, master planning, strategic planning and accreditation.

Goddard is a nationally recognized expert on higher education/employment law/compliance with more than 11 years of experience in higher education administration. Her career includes working for various law firms between August 2000 and November 2003, where she served as an associate in the area of education and employment litigation. Her vast work in the legal field included advising K-12 and higher education clients in the creation and negotiation of commercial, construction and employment contracts. She worked for Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin, LLP in Kansas City; and the St. Louis firms, Tueth Keeney Cooper Mohan Jackstadt, P.C., and McMahon, Berger, Hanna, Linhan, Cody & McCarthy, P.C.

The seasoned general counsel and education leader earned her Juris Doctorate at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from Florida State University-Tallahassee, Fla.

Throughout her successful professional career, Goddard has garnered numerous awards and honors. Most recently, these include selection as a Kansas City Business Journal 2014 NextGen Leader, 2014 Ingram鈥檚 Magazine Rising Star of Philanthropy, 2015 KC Magazine Influential Women in Business KC, and Ingram鈥檚 鈥�40 Under 40鈥� Class of 2012.