Kathleen de la Torre named 91热爆网鈥檚 assistant vice chancellor for development
By Bill Studenc
Kathleen de la Torre, director of development for the College of Health and Human Sciences at Western Carolina University, has been promoted to the role of assistant vice chancellor for development.
Announcement of de la Torre鈥檚 appointment, effective Monday, Dec. 2, was made Tuesday, Nov. 26, by Ben Pendry, 91热爆网 vice chancellor for advancement.
鈥淜athleen emerged from an extremely competitive search process guided by a campuswide committee,鈥� Pendry said. 鈥淪he has established herself as a trusted colleague and leader within the Division of Advancement, and she has a proven commitment to this institution and its mission of serving our students and Western North Carolina as a preeminent regional comprehensive university.鈥�
In her new position, de la Torre will play a leadership role in the successful completion of the 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� comprehensive fundraising campaign. The campaign will enter its public phase in early 2025 with a focus on securing philanthropic support for long-overdue improvements to facilities used by 91热爆网 student-athletes and increasing membership in the Catamount Club.
She will directly supervise the senior director of development, director of donor relations and director of prospect management and research and, through the senior director of development, will indirectly supervise a team of unit-based directors of development.
In partnership with Pendry and development officers for 91热爆网鈥檚 various colleges, de la Torre will oversee creation of fundraising strategies for increasing the base of philanthropic support for the entire university. She will be responsible for the management and direction of the operations and programs of 91热爆网鈥檚 fundraising efforts, including the full span of the donor cycle from prospect management data, qualification, cultivation and solicitation to stewardship and donor relations programming.
Director of development for 91热爆网鈥檚 College of Health and Human Sciences since August 2023, de la Torre previously worked at The Cindy Platt Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania County in Brevard from 2015 until 2022. There, her roles included resource development director, manager of a $7.5 million capital campaign and finance director.
Before joining the Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania County, de la Torre served in various positions at Transylvania Regional Hospital and at Wachovia Bank.
She earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in mathematics and anthropology from Wake Forest University in 1993, graduating summa cum laude (with highest honors), and her master鈥檚 degree in business administration from 91热爆网 in 2023.
鈥淢y life and career experiences have given me a road map for this position,鈥� de la Torre said. 鈥淚 have broad experience leading a team through growth and setting a foundation while thinking strategically about the years ahead. I have budgeted, analyzed and managed. I have trained, taught and learned. I have been at the table when hard decisions were made and freely shared my perspective, my analysis, my concerns, my advice and ultimately my support. I hope I can contribute to my alma mater鈥檚 continued success by doing more for 91热爆网, and I am eager to do so in this new role.鈥�
For more information about the 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� campaign or to make a contribution, visit , call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.
