Nature & Nurture | Giving News

Nicholas School Names New Associate Dean for External Affairs

Chandra Christian of Christian Consulting Firm in Rock Hill, S.C., is the Nicholas School’s new associate dean for external affairs.

As associate dean, she will direct all phases of the Nicholas School’s development program including major gifts, the annual fund and stewardship. She will serve as the primary liaison to the Nicholas School’s Board of Visitors and provide oversight of the alumni relations program.

Dean William L. Chameides said, “Chandra has succeeded in development at four different institutions. She has just the mix of attributes we were looking for—experience, leadership skills, insight and professional drive, combined with a passion and commitment to environmental stewardship. I am confident that she will have an immediate and very positive impact on our school.”

Christian is credited with raising more than $100 million as part of a billion dollar university campaign during a four-year period as executive director of development and college relations at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She held that position from 1994 to 2000 and again from 2002 to 2006, and has since established her own fund-raising consulting firm. The veterinary school, one of the youngest in the country at the time with only 1,000 alumni, had an original goal of $50 million for the campaign.

During her tenure at NC State, she oversaw a staff of five and provided leadership for college development and relations. In 2006, Christian secured the largest gift and pledge in the history of NC State, a $25 million donation from the foundation of the late High Point publisher Randall B. Terry Jr. Prior to that Terry’s gifts had totaled $5 million.

Before joining NC State, where she originally worked in university development, Christian served as director of annual giving at Meredith College in Raleigh. She also has served as director of major gifts and acting director of development at All Kinds of Minds Institute, a nonprofit organization that helps students struggling to become more successful learners, and as a student development specialist at Texas A&M University.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that speaks to my vision to do whatever it takes to positively impact the environment through partnering with others. By serving in this role, I hope to become a conduit between the school’s vision and those who want to make a difference,” Christian said.

One of her most recent adventures involved spending six weeks horseback riding in the national parks of the West.

Christian holds master’s of arts and bachelor of science degrees from Western Kentucky University.