HCC has new development director HCC has new development director
Once upon a time, she came to Henderson Community College to start her postsecondary education.
Now, Susanne Wilson has returned to The Hill to serve as the college's chief fundraiser and marketer.
Wilson has joined HCC as its new chief institutional advancement officer and executive director of its College Foundation.
"She started on July 1 and has hit the ground running," HCC President Pat Lake said.
A Webster County resident now living in Evansville, Wilson studied at HCC before transferring to the University of Southern Indiana, where she earned a bachelor's degree in history and a master's in secondary education. She later earned a master's in business administration from Audurn University.
Wilson, 45, has experience both as an educator and development director and marketer.
She has been a high school history and psychology teacher and also taught MBA classes at Oakland City University in organizational communications, strategic management and marketing.
Wilson most recently was vice president for marketing and development for the Southwest Indiana Network for Education, a non-profit organization that promotes education, including providing professional development for teachers.
In her new position at HCC, Wilson said she will work in donor relations, resource development and "marketing the achivements and goals and missions of the college."
Right now she's helping prepare for the dedication ceremony in September for the new Sullivan Technology Center as well as developing a scholarship fund in honor of longtime HCC supporter Bill Sullivan.
Wilson said she was attracted to the position by the opportunity to work in higher education as well as to be closer to her ill mother in Webster County.
While she holds the position of development director, she doesn't expect to be working alone.
"Dr. Lake is very involved and so is the board," Wilson said.
HCC's previous development director, Lisa Piccolo, has joined Ivy Tech Community College in Evansville as executive director of resource development.
Among her responsibilities was overseeing fundraising, including the Fulfilling the Promise campaign that wrapped up late last year after raising more than $5 million for a child development center, scholarships and technology infrastructure.
The campaign also included the acquisition by HCC of its IET training center on Pennell Street and the Herron Technology Center in Union County.
Piccolo joined HCC in 2001 after serving as the executive director of Friends of Mesker Park Zoo.
"Lisa was superb in every respect," Lake said. "We deeply appreciate all the hard work she did for the college. She just had an opportunity to take a different bend in the road with Ivy Tech."
