Anne Enright Shepherd
Changes set to enhance VUMC Development efforts
Holly Walsh
Development and Alumni Relations at Vanderbilt University Medical Center has announced the creation of a new position and has promoted several staff members.
• Anne Enright Shepherd has been named to the new position of executive director of Communications for Development and Alumni Relations at VUMC, a new position for the department.
“Anne was one of my top three hires during my tenure at Wash U and I am delighted she decided to join our team to build our communications program,” said Randy Farmer, executive associate vice chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations at VUMC.
Previously, Shepherd served as the senior director of alumni and constituent relations at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
When she began at Washington University in 2001, she served as a senior medical news writer. In addition to working as the public relations manager for the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, she also spent three years as a public affairs specialist at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md.
“Her former work at the NIH and other government agencies, and as a science writer in public affairs at Wash U, gives her the perfect combination of skills and perspective for working with our colleagues in communications across the campus,” Farmer said. “Anne will also be responsible for establishing a comprehensive stewardship program that allows us to have a single, integrated database for capturing all of the important stewardship data.”
• Holly Walsh has been named executive director of Development for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. She has served in that role on an interim basis since April.
Walsh, who most recently served as senior director of Development for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center, came to Vanderbilt in 2000. Prior to that, she spent nearly three decades working in the community at the American Heart Association.
“Her previous work with the American Heart Association, coupled with her time at VUMC, gives her the needed experience to manage a multi-faceted program, which includes major gifts, the Friends Organization, the Children's Miracle Network Program and Steeplechase,” Farmer said.
“Holly is well known in the community and she will be able to capitalize on the good will by continuing to recruit dedicated volunteers.”
• Cindy Seay has been named assistant vice chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations. Most recently, Seay served as executive director and senior advisor. Seay, while working on behalf of the Section of Surgical Sciences, will manage departmental programs, emphasizing on patient fund raising, house staff officers, fellows, individuals and friends.
“Cindy is the consummate major gift officer and she is one of the most effective managers I've ever had the pleasure of working with,” Farmer said.
• Sarah Reynolds has been named executive director of Departmental Programs. Previously, she was senior director of Development. She will continue to serve the Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and the Diabetes Center, and will assist Seay in growing departmental programs.
“Sarah and Cindy will make an effective team in strengthening our programs at the departmental level, with the goal of building one of the model programs among our Medical Center peers,” Farmer said.
• Todd Jackson has been named senior director of Annual Fund. He previously served as director.
“Todd has taken a leadership role in our online community and online giving project, has added significant value to our strategic planning process, and he has served as a role model for many of our newer development officers,” Farmer said. “Todd's annual fund program is a linchpin for all that we do, and his success is critical to the success of the larger organization.”