Greenwood businesswoman Denise Manley has been named the new executive director of Alumni Affairs at Lander University.
Manley, the president and CEO of United Way of Greenwood and Abbeville Counties since 2008, will assume her new duties on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
"We are thrilled to have Denise Manley joining our team at Lander University," said Lander President Richard Cosentino. "Our alumni are our largest constituency, and we are excited to see how Denise will engage our alumni and help strengthen their ties to their alma mater."
As director of the United Way, Manley developed a five-year strategic plan and oversaw $1.2 million in annual campaign fundraising efforts and agency program allocations, partnering with local school districts, civic and government entities and agencies such as the YMCA, Bowers-Rodgers Children's Home, Burton Center for Special Needs and Disabilities, Food Bank of Greenwood County, Meg's House and Faith Home, to promote educational, healthcare and financial stability initiatives.
After graduating from Lander in 1989 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies, Manley worked as public relations coordinator for Velux-America in Greenwood, serving in that capacity for seven years. From 2000 until 2008, she was marketing and resource development director for Greenwood Family YMCA.
She is married to 1993 Lander graduate Jim Manley, a founding partner of Manley Garvin, LLC, the Greenwood accounting, tax and consulting firm.
"I am very thankful for this opportunity with my alma mater," Manley said. "I am honored to join in this exciting time for Lander with the recently launched strategic plan, and in particular with the alumni engagement component. I am ready to meet and build relationships with the 17,000 alumni across the state and region, and help foster and create connectivity between them and the students. I also look forward to being able to recognize the efforts of our loyal and dedicated alumni as they help us support and promote the university."