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Bluefield College's Ruth Blankenship has been promoted from associate vice president to vice president for institutional advancement.

June 1, 2009

     The appointment came as a result of a Board of Trustees vote during its spring meetings, but more importantly as a result of Blankenship's loyalty and commitment to BC.
     "We are fortunate to have someone like Ruth who demonstrates a deep passion for the mission of the college," said President David Olive. "Over the past nine years of serving here, Ruth has honed strong fundraising and leadership skills that I am confident position us for success in our Capturing the Imagination campaign."
     Blankenship joined the advancement staff in the fall of 2000 after beginning her professional career in accounting. She initially directed BC's corporate and foundation relations and the school's Annual Fund. In 2005, she was promoted to coordinator of the Advancement Office, before being named associate vice president for advancement in 2007.
     Since joining the BC family, she has been instrumental in a number of Advancement accomplishments, including writing grants and raising funds for the creation of nine BC SMART classrooms, a new video conferencing facility, and renovations to Harman Chapel, Easley Library, and BC residence halls.
    Plus, she played a key role in the creation of the school's living and learning initiative and was instrumental in forming the partnership between Bluefield College and the Town of Bluefield, Virginia, to explore the construction of a Campus-Community Center. She also played a key role in restructuring the college's annual giving program to create the BC Fund for Scholarships, which has seen significant growth in donor participation and giving.
     In addition, Blankenship has served the college as an adjunct instructor business, a faculty advisor for the student business clubs Phi Beta Lambda and Students in Free Enterprise, a faculty advisor for the social sciences honor society Pi Gamma Mu, and an advisor for the Bonner Student Leaders program. She earned the school's Distinguished Staff Award in 2008 for her "strong Christian character" and "heart for Bluefield College."
     "I am honored to serve Bluefield College in this new leadership role," said Blankenship about being named vice president for advancement. "This is such an exciting time to serve, because in my opinion we are entering a transformational era led by college leadership, faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends in conjunction with mutually beneficial partnerships with our community and Commonwealth."
     Blankenship, a native of Grundy, Virginia, who resides in Tazewell, Virginia, holds a master's degree in accounting from Virginia Tech and a bachelor's degree in business from Emory and Henry College. She is an active member of Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, a volunteer for Tazewell County 4-H, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Tazewell County Fair Association and the Southwest Virginia Education and Training Network.
 

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