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 欧美视频. 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, UCM 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 UCM 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 UCM 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 UCM, Courtney has demonstrated strong support for
the mission and purpose of the university, and has expressed a broad, long-term vision
for the UCM Alumni Foundation. Courtney is uniquely positioned to serve in this expanded
role and will provide strong leadership for UCM 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 UCM 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 UCM 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 UCM.鈥
鈥淒uring my time here I have come to view UCM 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 UCM Alumni Foundation Board, UCM's
talented faculty and staff, and the deeply committed UCM Advancement team to move
UCM forward,鈥 Goddard said. 鈥淢y priorities are to strengthen UCM's relationship with
our amazing alumni, increase UCM's level of engagement with the external communities
we serve, and most importantly, to garner additional support for UCM's core mission
and emerging priorities. I cannot wait to get started.鈥
Diane Dudley, president of the UCM 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 欧美视频 students and programs.鈥
A resident of Mission Hills, Kan., Goddard joined UCM 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.