Office of Philanthropy
Our mission is to build and maintain a donor base that will make a difference in the lives of students, faculty and staff today and for the future. This enables the university to fulfill its educational mission by augmenting current budgets and building on the University's endowments.

Kris Phillips | Vice President for Alumni, Engagement and Philanthropy and Executive Director
of the APSU Foundation
Kris returned to APSU, his alma mater (’91), in 2016 after a 16-year tenure at the
University of Tennessee and the UT Health Science Center. In his role, he oversees
the APSU Foundation, alumni relations and advancement and is responsible for all university
engagement and fundraising activities. Kris and his wife, Tammy, have two sons, Brayden
and Parker. Parker is also an Austin Peay graduate and a former Governors baseball
player.
phillipsk@apsu.edu
Vonda St. Amant | Assistant Executive Director of Philanthropy
Vonda is a 1983 graduate of APSU. After several years in non-profit fundraising, Vonda
returned to her alma mater in 2010 and currently serves as the assistant executive
director. In her role, Vonda oversees a dynamic development team and provides donor-focused
leadership to help meet the strategic goals of the University.
stamantv@apsu.edu
Kimberly Adkison | Senior Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship
Kimberly is a Clarksville native and an APSU graduate with degrees in professional
studies and management (BS ’06 and MS ’10). She serves as the director of donor relations
and scholarships. Kimberly oversees stewardship management and scholarship compliance.
adkisonk@apsu.edu
Rebekah Bishop | Senior Director of Donor and Foundation Operations
Since 2004, Rebekah has worked in development services, prospect research, alumni
relations, donor stewardship, annual giving and event planning in higher education
in Tennessee and Florida. She holds a bachelor’s degree from King University (’03)
and master’s degree from Boston University (’09). Rebekah oversees development services,
prospect research and annual giving.
bishopr@apsu.edu
Brady Dorris | Assistant Athletics Director for Development
Brady is from Greenbrier, Tennessee. He graduated from APSU in 2018 with a bachelor's
degree in health and human performance with a concentration in education. He is a
former Governors football player. Before returning to his alma mater as the assistant
athletics director - development, he worked as a teacher for three years. Brady is
excited to assist all APSU athletic programs moving forward.
dorrisb@apsu.edu
Jerica Swiger | Director of Development
Jerica Swiger has worked in the areas of arts, culture and development for several
years with organizations such as Ohio Northern University, Eastern Michigan University
and The Chicago Architecture Foundation. Jerica brings nearly 20 years of experience
in all areas of non-profit and higher education management to APSU, where she assists
the College of Arts and Letters, the College of Behavioral Health Sciences and the
College of Graduate studies with membership development, programming, board development
and fundraising. She holds a master’s degree in non-profit management with a concentration
in human services and a bachelor’s degree in arts management with a minor in management.
swigerj@apsu.edu
Kara Allen | Prospect Researcher
Kara graduated from Minnesota State University in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in
communications studies and a minor in sociology. She spent her undergraduate career
working in the university advancement office. In that role, she gained database experience
and knowledge of fundraising activities. Kara and her husband moved to Clarksville
when he was stationed at nearby Fort Campbell.
allenka@apsu.edu
Payton Baggett | Alumni and Philanthropy Communications Specialist
Payton is a Clarksville native and an APSU graduate with degrees in journalism and
marketing (BS ’14, MA ’17). She previously worked as a reporter for ClarksvilleNow.com
and an AmeriCorps VISTA for the Clarksville-Montgomery County Education Foundation
before returning to Austin Peay in 2018. She oversees press releases, email marketing,
website content, social media and printed materials.
baggettp@apsu.edu
Ashley Puskas | Office Supervisor and Assistant to the Vice President for Alumni, Engagement
and Philanthropy
Ashley is a native of Dickson County and a second-generation alumna of Austin Peay.
She earned her bachelor's degree in 2010. Thoughshe has a heart for earth sciences,
her head is in business. Her husband Eddie graduated from the APSU Center at Fort
Campbell in 2013. He is a veteran of the US Army. She is responsible for processing
donations and overseeing day-to-day activities in the Advancement office. In her free
time, she enjoys long walks outdoors, hunting and snuggling with her two dogs.
puskasa@apsu.edu
Kelley Board | Donor Relations and Scholarship Coordinator
In 2001, Kelley earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee in
Knoxville with a major in psychology and a minor in sociology. She entered the arena
of higher education in 2017 and worked her way to the assistant director of admissions
role at Daymar College in Nashville, Tennessee, before coming to APSU. In her position,
she works with stewardship and donor relations. Kelley has a six-year-old son, Richard
Pardue III.
boardk@apsu.edu
Emily DeSpain | Philanthropy Operations Specialist
Emily earned her bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in public
relations and a minor in psychology from Austin Peay in 2015. She worked as a social
media marketer, event planner and administrative assistant before returning to work
at her alma mater. In her role, Emily processes donations and is involved in the day-to-day
office activities in the Advancement office.
despaine@apsu.edu Vacant | Data and Reporting Analyst
A military transplant, Larry made Clarksville his home after graduating high school.
He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in professional studies from APSU in 2002,
and now has worked at his alma mater for over 20 years. His primary responsibilities
are technical in nature. He maintains, reports from, and instructs others on the use
of the Raiser’s Edge database and NXT web view.
wheelerl@apsu.edu