The Giving Team: TAMUC Welcomes New Philanthropy and Engagement Staff
The Division of Philanthropy and Engagement is pleased to introduce six new team members. Each staff member is a talented professional with a wealth of experience in philanthropy and alumni relations. The expanded philanthropy team is excited to deepen its connections with Lion alumni and friends, garnering support to advance education opportunities for the Lion community and Northeast Texas region.
“I am excited for us to welcome a talented and mission-oriented group to the Lion family,” said Devin Girod, vice president of Philanthropy and Engagement. “Their professional experience and personal passion will lead to meaningful relationships with our alumni, friends and industry. Most importantly, our work together will lead to new opportunities for our students, faculty and university.”
Meet the New Team Members
Gina Lowe, Associate Vice President of Philanthropy and Engagement
Gina Lowe was recently promoted to associate vice president of Philanthropy and Engagement at A&M-Commerce. She comes to A&M-Commerce from Oklahoma State University (OSU) Alumni Association where she led the marketing and communications, membership, and engagement teams, and grew affinity partnerships. Before OSU, she spent 12 years at the University of North Texas Division in the Division of Advancement, leading the communications team and more than doubling alumni association membership.
Lowe earned her bachelor's degree in animal science from OSU and her master's in communications from West Texas A&M University. She resides in Caddo Mills with her husband and two children.
Jim Lewis, Chief Advancement Officer
Jim Lewis has worked in higher education for more than four decades. Before joining A&M-Commerce, Lewis served as Texas United Methodist College Association president. He also served as vice president of advancement programs at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth from 2014 to 2020; at the University of Texas at Arlington from 2008 to 2014; at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, from 1995 to 2008; and at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1989 to 1995.
Lewis has been involved in multiple comprehensive campaigns and provided leadership for numerous advancement programs, raising nearly $500 million throughout his career. While at UT Arlington, he received national recognition from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) for leading one of the two most-improved development programs among doctoral institutions with endowments of under $250 million for the 2012-13 year.
In recognition of his service to the fundraising profession throughout North Texas, the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals recognized Lewis with the 2016 Outstanding Fundraising Executive Award. He also received the Distinguished Achievement Award in 2017 from CASE, District IV.
Lewis received his undergraduate degree in counseling and sociology at East Texas State University (now A&M-Commerce) and his M.S. in Student Personnel and Guidance. He also received his MBA from Southern Methodist University.
Laura Kramer-Lucas, Director of Annual Giving and Special Programs
Laura Kramer-Lucas brings more than 20 years of higher education experience to her role at A&M-Commerce, including experience with annual giving, special projects and major gifts. Laura has worked for various universities, including UT Southwestern Medical Center, Baylor University, and the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has served as an annual giving consultant with various non-profit organizations. Her driving focus is to develop a donor-centric approach, reaching all constituents as part of a life cycle of engagement and giving with the institution. Her specialties include reimagining, developing and marketing annual giving programs that impact students, faculty and the community.
Michael Daley, Director of Institutional Giving
Michael Daley holds an M.S. in Management from the University of New Haven and a B.S. in Management with a minor in Business Economics from Rutgers University. Daley has worked with several non-profit organizations that have recognized his expertise in leadership, marketing, management and business development.
At Special Olympics, he ran large-scale special sports events and drove significant fundraising events for the organization. He has also worked in higher education, overseeing large sports organizations and emphasizing staff development and major gift donations.
In his most recent position, Daley served as the executive director of FORWARD Worthington, where he led the merger of three community development organizations. He also served as liaison to five community non-profits with a focus on fundraising and development strategy.
Daley is excited to join the A&M-Commerce community with his wife, Meredith, and three children.
Tre'Juan (Tre) Johnson Bio
Tre'Juan Johnson has recently joined the Lion family as the director of philanthropy, where he will serve as a frontline fundraiser for major gifts. Johnson holds a wealth of donor and alumni relations experience, beginning with his days as a student worker for the alumni association at Southeastern Louisiana University, his alma mater.
Johnson spent four years at Georgia College and State University—Georgia's first public liberal arts university—as assistant director of Alumni Awards, Reunions and Collaborations. His most recent stint was at Benedict College, a private, historically Black university in South Carolina. Johnson is passionate about philanthropy and giving back, and he looks forward to building pathways for those who are passionate about A&M-Commerce.
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Learn more about Philanthropy and Engagement at A&M-Commerce.