- Home
- About
- Advancement & Alumni
- Concord University Foundation, Inc.
Concord University Foundation, Inc.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
The Concord University Foundation, Inc. was established in 1974 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to grow charitable resources, enhance the University’s reputation, and strengthen relationships with alumni and friends of Concord.
Governed by a dedicated board of directors, we are committed to responsible stewardship of the gifts entrusted to use by our many donors. Through the generosity of these alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and individuals, foundation and corporate friends, the CU Foundation continues to grow to support the needs of Concord University and its students. Through the generosity of countless donors, the Concord University Foundation now has over $54 million in assets.
An investment in Concord University is not merely a gift to a university – it is truly a game-changer. Your financial support will impact our students, faculty and allow efforts to improve the physical campus. Each donation provides opportunities for students, faculty and the community that would not otherwise be possible. On behalf of the CU Foundation, Concord University and the entire Mountain Lion community, thank you for your support.
Yes. The Foundation is the fundraising arm of the University. The Foundation exists for the exclusive benefit of Concord University. The Foundation’s executive director manages the operations of the Foundation.
The Board of Directors is made up of top business leaders from across the country: financial planners, bank executives and investment counselors, who are dedicated to putting their extensive skills to work for you and for Concord University.
The Foundation offers comprehensive planned giving services and our staff is available to help you understand how the Foundation can benefit you at tax time. Contact the Foundation office for more information at 304-384-6056.
Here are just a few of the options donors can consider as they create a giving approach that makes sense for their financial situation:
- Direct Support – Donors may make direct gifts to the Foundation to support endowed scholarships, capital projects, campus improvements, faculty awards or the university endowment.
- Bequests – A bequest is an act of giving through one’s estate. The will is the most popular manner for making gifts through one’s estate.
- Charitable Remainder Unitrust – The most popular and flexible type of life income plan is a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT). Cash, securities, real property, or other assets are transferred into the trust. The trustee manages the trust assets and pays the donor a variable income for life or for a term of years. When the trust terminates, the remaining assets in the trust are transferred to the beneficiary.
- Charitable Remainder Annuity – This trust pays a fixed percentage (at least 5 percent) of the initial value of the trust at least once a year. The payout is constant regardless of fluctuation in the value or trust earnings. In an annuity trust, if trust earnings are insufficient to make the required payments in any year, the difference is paid from trust principal.
You may donate
Art, cash, check, securities, salable real estate, life insurance, personal property
Direct Support
You may make direct gifts to the Foundation to support endowed scholarships, capital projects, campus improvements, faculty awards, athletics or the University Endowment.
Consider a Tribute Gift
You can make a gift supporting any area of Concord University in memory of or in honor of a teacher, student, relative, friend, individual, memorable time of your life or for any admirable reason you would like. These gifts will be administered as you direct or, if not specified, will be added to the General Unrestricted Fund.
Contribute to an Existing Fund
A contribution of any size for the charitable needs of the campus community can be placed in the General Unrestricted Fund or in a scholarship or other established fund that meets your purpose in granting.
Create Your Own Fund
A gift of $25,000 or more, which may be paid over the span of five years, permits the creation of a perpetual endowed fund, with your selected name and charitable purpose. These individual funds are accounted for separately under the umbrella of the Foundation and the proceeds are paid out as determined by the Concord University Foundation, pursuant to the guidelines you specify. Please contact the Foundation Office if creating your own named designated fund would meet your charitable needs.
Leave Your Legacy to CU
You can specify a certain dollar amount or designate the Foundation as a residuary or contingent beneficiary of your estate free of estate and inheritance taxes.
Contribute by Giving Stock Gifts
You may give gifts of marketable stocks or mutual fund shares that have appreciated, which can have an immediate impact on your favorite Concord University program and can also create an immediate income tax deduction based on the assets’ current value.
Give with a Charitable Remainder Trust
You can donate by designating a charitable remainder trust to be paid to the Concord University Foundation, which may be specified as an unrestricted gift or used to establish a new fund in the donor’s name. A charitable remainder trust pays the donor or a beneficiary designated by the donor to receive regular income payments for life or a specified trust term (up to 20 years) and whatever remains will be transferred to the Concord University Foundation. The donor receives an immediate tax deduction for the present value of the gift in the year the gift is made.
Matching Gifts
You can multiply your generosity through your employer’s matching gift program. Ask your employer about their charitable matching program.
Payroll Deduction (for Concord University Employees)
You may fill out a payroll deduction form to have a certain amount deducted from each paycheck to be used by the Concord University Foundation in the General Unrestricted Fund.
Online & Phone Giving
Use our online options in the right column of this page or we accept your credit card donation via telephone: Please call 304-384-6266.
Cash or Check Giving
You can give by cash or check in person at University Point or you can mail your donation to the Concord University Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 1405 Athens, WV 24712-1405. Please include on the memo line or on a separate sheet of paper the designation of your gift (unrestricted, Mountain Lion Club, area of greatest need, a certain project, or a specific scholarship fund).
Give to a Scholarship
You can mark your donation to be used for a scholarship program. Click on the links below for more information on our Scholarship Programs.
Link Your Kroger Plus Rewards Card to the Foundation
Log onto www.kroger.com/communityrewards and link your Kroger Plus card to the Concord University Foundation. Each time you shop at Kroger and use your card, money will be donated to the CU Foundation.
For additional information on giving, please contact foundation@concord.edu
This is your chance to help make a difference at Concord, It Starts With You. Come take a seat with us and leave a lasting legacy at Concord University by naming a seat in the Fine Arts Center Main Theatre. The Main Theatre plays host to a variety of events, performances and traditions enjoyed by many at Concord University. Each year the Main Theatre is visited by thousands of students, alumni and individuals in the surrounding communities.
Supporting the A Seat for U campaign is a generous act of philanthropy that creates a lasting legacy for the donor in one of the most public spaces on campus. This special one-time gift will also take this project further by making renovations and upgrades in other areas of the Main Theatre.
Your investment of $350 grants the opportunity to name a seat in the Main Theatre.
Seats will come with an engraved plaque on each chair and may include the following naming opportunities:
• As an individual, couple or family
• For your children, grandchildren or parents
• In memory of a loved one
• Business or organization
• To honor a retiring employee
At the end of the purchase process, you will be asked for the verbiage to be engraved on your plaque.
An example is as follows:[First Line] in memory of[Second Line] Name[Date] 1969-2017

Chair – Jennifer Ware ’88
Princeton, West Virginia
Jenny Ware ’88 is a Senior Vice President and Fiduciary Division Director at Truist Bank Wealth with a responsibility for the trust platform for high net worth clients in WV/VA/DC/PA/MD and the North East. A graduate of Concord University with a BA in Communications with an emphasis in Advertising, she obtained an MBA from West Virginia University and is a graduate of the BB&T Banking School at Wake Forest University. Jenny is currently the Chair of the Concord University Foundation, a role that is exciting as the board works to grow and utilize the endowment for the advancement and support to Concord University.

Vice Chair – Kevin Powell ’89
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Kevin Powell ’89 is the Founder and CEO of Kevin Powell’s Automotive and Powersports Group. His dealerships represent nine different franchises with stores located in Winston Salem, Greensboro, Charlotte and Pilot Mountain, NC. His entrepreneurial interests also include an insurance agency, a marketing company, a scrap metal business and a professional automobile racing team. Kevin graduated from Concord with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. In addition to serving as Vice Chair, Kevin also chairs the Foundation Development Committee.

Secretary – Dr. Chuck Becker
Beckley, West Virginia
Dr. Chuck Becker is a CPA who graduated from college in 1969 with a degree in Economics. He has also received is MBA and DBA. He currently resides in Beckley, West Virginia, and has professional experience working as a Controller, Small Business Owner, Vice President for Business & Finance, and an Accounting Professor.

Treasurer – Pat McCormick-Moore
Princeton, West Virginia
Pat Moore is a graduate of West Virginia University with a B.S. in Business Administration and a Masters in Industrial Relations. She was an Instructor at Concord College for seven years in the Business Department where she taught Business Strategy, Management, and Economics. Pat joined Conn-Weld Industries in 1988 where she served as a founding Board Member and Vice President until the company was sold in 2020. She currently serves on the Princeton Community Hospital Board and as a member of the Truist Community Advisory Board.

Greg Allen ’70
Scottsdale, Arizona
Greg Allen graduated from Concord College in 1970 with a Business Administration degree with an Economics Emphasis. During his time at Concord, he was part of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. Professional experience: Founding partner of Disciplined Advisors Group. Previous work includes serving as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch, branch manager, Regional Sales Manager and Regional Director for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and National Sales Director for Bank of America Investment Services. Any certifications or organizational memberships you would like to include: Certified Financial Planner designation achieved in 1984.

Dr. Jerry Beasley
Athens, West Virginia
Dr. Jerry Beasley graduated cum laude from Harvard College in 1966 with his A.B. in American History, from Harvard Graduate School of Education with his Ed.M. in 1969, and from Stanford University with his Ph.D. in 1980. He later went on to serve as the President of Concord College/University from 1985-2008. He currently resides in Athens, West Virginia where he serves a member of the Hinton Area Foundation, Concord University Foundation, and Concord United Methodist Church.

Dr. Jerry Benson ’72
Rockingham, Virginia
Dr. Jerry Benson graduated from Concord College in 1972 with a degree in Psychology, from George Peabody College with a his masters degree in 1973, and from George Peabody College with his Ph.D. in Transactional Ecological Psychology in 1976. He currently resides in Rockingham, Virginia, and is a licensed psychologist in Virginia and West Virginia. Director of Psychological Services for Regional Education Service Area IV, West Virginia from 1975 – 1979. While at James Madison University (Virginia) from 1980 – 2017 he served as:
- Professor of Psychology
- Director of Shenandoah Child Development Clinic
- Dean College of Education and Psychology
- Dean College of Integrated Science and Technology
- Vice Provost Science, Technology, Health and Human Services
- Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Christy Elliott Bly ’04
Charleston, West Virginia
Christy Elliott Bly graduated from college in 2004 with a degree in Business Administration. She also graduated from the BB&T Banking School at Wake Forest University in 2018. She has 18 years of professional experience with Truist Bank in Charleston, WV, where she currently resides. She also has experience in commercial banking and wealth management. Bly is the current president of the Rotary Club of Charleston, the treasurer of the City Center Business Improvement District, a board member on the Charleston Area Alliance, and the vice chair of the Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Jie Chen ’99
Boston, Massachusetts
Jie Chen graduated from college in 1999 with a degree in Finance, and received her JD from the University of Michigan. She currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts, where she serves as an Investments Attorney at Liberty Mutual. Prior to this, she worked as a Regulatory Banking Attorney at Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (2016-2021), Counsel at State Street Bank of Trust (2013-2016), and an Associate at two law firms in New York and Boston (2006-2013).

Bill Courson
Columbus, Ohio
Bill Courson graduated from University of Michigan with his BA Concentrations in Economics and History, and from University of Chicago with his MBA Concentration in Finance. He currently resides in Columbus, Ohio where he serves as the Senior Managing Director for The Mason Companies, an investment advisory firm based in Reston, Virginia. In the past, Bill has served as President & Chief Investment Officer for the Lancaster Pollard Investment Advisory Group, an investment advisory firm based in Columbus, OH. He was also the Chief Investment Officer of a $10 billion public fund, and has over 10 years of capital markets experience. Courson was the former investment consultant to the Concord University Foundation from 2007 to 2015. He has authored or edited research that has been published or reprinted by over 70 organizations nationally, and has presented research to national and regional conferences. Courson has also been a guest lecturer at The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business MBA and Specialized Masters in Finance programs on asset allocation and policy analysis.

Grace Hurney ‘12
Grace Hurney ’12 is a Member with the law firm of Jackson Kelly PLLC, practicing labor and employment law. Ms. Hurney graduated from Concord University with a degree in Political Science, and was an active participant in campus life, serving as President of the Student Government Association and President of her sorority, Sigma Sigma Sigma, in addition to being a member of the Mock Trial team for several years. Ms. Hurney went on to obtain her JD at the West Virginia University College of Law in 2015, and later served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Robert B. King of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Veneicia Lockhart ’82
Haymarket, Virginia
Veneicia Lockhart graduated from Concord College in 1982 with a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. During her time at Concord, she was a member of the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, Cardinal Key Honor Society and SGA. Ms. Lockhart received her CPA certificate in 1985 and worked for public accounting firms in Chicago, Charlottesville, and Washington, D.C. After working Twenty-five years for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) in Arlington, Virginia, Ms. Lockhart retired in 2022 as the SVP of Finance. At NRECA, Ms. Lockhart was a member of the Executive Leadership Team and responsible for the accounting, finance, and strategic sourcing and procurement departments. Ms. Lockhart currently resides in Haymarket, Virginia.

Jason Lunsford ‘99
Jason is the Director of Retirement Plan Consulting at FORVIS Wealth Advisors. He received a degree in Business Administration from Concord University and has an MBA from Marshall University.
April is a 2004 graduate of Concord University with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Tourism Management with an emphasis on Planning and Promotion. During her time at Concord she proudly served in the Bonner Scholars Program. April was appointed as the State Farm Agent in 2018 where she owns and operates a State Farm Insurance agency in Bastian, VA. She holds licenses in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee in Property & Casualty, Life, Accident and Health. She is currently pursuing her ChFC® Chartered Financial Consultant designation at The American College of Financial Services. Gardening, home improvement projects and travel occupy Lynn’s time since retirement. She is also a volunteer with a local Hospice company. Scot Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Concord College (1985) and a Master of Health Services Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina (1991). Currently residing in Lewisburg, WV, Scot brings over 30 years of experience in senior healthcare leadership. He has served as Chief Executive Officer of hospitals in West Virginia, Montana, and Alaska, and has held key leadership roles in nursing homes, clinics, and hospital networks. As a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Scot is committed to ensuring that rural communities have access to high-quality healthcare services. Dipali graduated from Concord in 2006 with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance and is currently pursuing the Executive Leadership program at Stanford Graduate School of Business. With 15 years of experience in Global Client Operations, Program Management, and Customer Excellence, Dipali has honed her expertise in these areas and is now Vice President-Client Operations & Project Management with the Azzur Group. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring Customer Excellence for Pharma and Life Sciences Manufacturing services companies. She lives in Southern California with her husband and son, and enjoys spending time with her family when she’s not working.
Dr. Dimeji Onafuwa achieved top honors at Concord University, graduating summa cum laude with a BA in Design and Studio Art in 2000. He furthered his education with an MBA from UNC Charlotte and a PhD in Design from Carnegie Mellon University. Currently, he serves as a UX Research leader at Microsoft within the technology sector. Previously, he held a role at Google Cloud focusing on Cloud Distribution. Dimeji is recognized globally for his art exhibitions and is a sought-after design leader, frequently delivering keynote addresses. In Seattle, he co-founded the Common Cause Collective, a group of designers dedicated to tackling complex issues in the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, he contributes as a member of the Advisory Board for University of Washington HCDE. Montgomery County, Virginia Christopher Tuck lives in Montgomery County, Virginia and is a 1987 graduate of Concord College and a 1993 graduate of the Thomas M. Cooley School of Law. He is a member and past president of the Montgomery-Radford Bar Association, and has appeared before local courts, the Virginia Court of Appeals, the Virginia Supreme Court, and the United States Supreme Court. He served for eight years on the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors. He has served on the Montgomery Museum Board of Directors, Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society Board of Directors, New River Valley ASAP Board of Directors, and Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Committee. Chris was recognized by the CU Alumni Association in 2014 with the Outstanding Alumnus Award. He is married to Susan Tuck ’87 and has two sons, Dylan Tuck and Jordan Tuck ’18. Hurricane, West Virginia David Kirby is a managing director and financial advisor at Truist Investment Services, Inc. / Truist Advisory Services, Inc. He served on the CU Foundation board from 2005 through 2022, two terms as Chair, and spent the entire time on Investment Committee. Several years ago, David and his wife, Sandy established a memorial scholarship at CU for their daughter, Kelli Ann. He graduated from Concord in 1979.
April Lusk ‘04
Scot Mitchel ‘85
Dipali Nanda ‘06
Dr. Dimeji Onafuwa ’00
Chris Tuck ’90
David Kirby ’79
Not Pictured: Charles Pace