Connie McKenzie, MSW, CFRE, Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations joined EVMS in 2009. Ms. McKenzie guides a department of development and alumni relations professionals who build relationships with individuals, foundations and corporations capable of gifts to EVMS. The alumni team help EVMS alumni maintain important connections and facilitate alumni-student interaction for enriching the educational experience. The department is also responsible for delivering stellar institutional events such as commencement and student orientations.
The Development Department is currently engaged in a six-year capital campaign titled Deliver on the Promise. Ms. McKenzie and her team manage this successful capital campaign which is projected to raise almost twice the original goal of $35 million to over $75 million committed to EVMS.
The successful work by the Development Department on the prior campaign resulted in EVMS receiving the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Hampton Roads’ 2013 National Philanthropy Day Award for Outstanding Non-profit in Fundraising and Connie was subsequently awarded the AFP – HR’s Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award in 2014. In that same year, Ms. McKenzie also received EVMS’ highest honor award of Outstanding Achievement from the President of EVMS.
Ms. McKenzie holds a Bachelor degree in Psychology from Radford University, a Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). She is a graduate of the CIVIC Leadership Institute Program as well as Lead Hampton Roads and Ignite Chesapeake, leadership programs of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. She is a past President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Hampton Roads and Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Inc. In 2007, she was recognized by Inside Business as a Top Forty under 40 honoree. She currently serves as the vice chair for Virginia MOCA Board of Trustees and serves as a board member for Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic Foundation.