Devery named VSU's vice president for institutional advancement

VALDOSTA, Ga. - Ray Devery, Valdosta State University's assistant to the president for institutional advancement, was recently named vice president for institutional advancement.

The title change recognizes Devery's efforts to enhance VSU's institutional advancement activities and brings the university's hierarchy more into line with that of larger state universities.

The duties of Devery, who has served as assistant to the president for institutional advancement since 1994, will remain largely unchanged.

Devery recently supervised the VSU Foundation's acquisition of the largest capital gift in the university's history. Johnny V. McCranie, a Valdosta businessman, donated the former Holiday Markets Building on North Ashley Street for university use. The gift is valued at more than $1.5 million.

"The activities in the advancement area are among the most important occurring at Valdosta State University," said Dr. Hugh C. Bailey, VSU president. "We are extremely fortunate to have a dedicated professional with extensive experience in this area heading our operation. It is particularly appropriate at this time to recognize the importance of the advancement area."

"Personally, it's very rewarding to be part of Dr. Bailey's administrative staff," Devery said. "As we move into a capital campaign, Institutional Advancement will play a large role. My thanks go to the staff of Institutional Advancement who help make our efforts so successful."

Devery also serves the university as executive vice president of the VSU Foundation and director of development.

Devery came to Valdosta from Nashville, Tenn., where he was president of the United Methodist Foundation for Christian Higher Education. He holds an honorary doctorate of divinity from Centenary College, a master of arts from Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., and a bachelor of arts from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill.

In addition, Devery has served as a professor of economics and political science at Centenary College in New Jersey, professor of marketing at the Graduate School of Business at Governor's State University, professor of business at Prairie State College and academic dean of Centenary College.

Since coming to VSU, Devery has worked to encourage alternative funding sources in the increasingly expensive field of public education. In 1997, he was named to the Advisory Board to the President of the Common Fund, the investment management firm for more than 3,000 public and private colleges, universities and independent schools in the United States.

Devery is one of only 12 board members nationwide appointed to represent the schools for which the Common Fund makes investments. He represents regional public universities in the United States and Canada.

Devery and his wife, Lynn, live in Valdosta.