Biography

Gayle E. Jones recently joined Auburn University’s Raymond J. Harbert College of Business as Director of Development. Before coming to Auburn, she served as Executive Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations and Annual Giving for Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga., after holding previous positions there as Executive Director for Alumni Relations/Annual Giving and as Senior Director of Development for KSU’s College of Science and Math.

Before KSU, Jones served in leadership roles for a variety of nonprofit clients. Jones has raised money and awareness for numerous causes — historic preservation; pediatric developmental disabilities; liberal arts higher education; private independent education, environmental advocacy, and social services. Past positions have included Chief Development Officer at Marietta’s Center for Family Resources; VP for Development and Communications at the Georgia Conservancy; Director of Development for Mount Paran Christian School; Executive Director of Development & Major Gifts and Interim Vice President for Advancement at Reinhardt University; Director of Development at The Adaptive Learning Center; and Executive Director of Historic Oakland, Inc.

Jones has been a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) since 1994. This designation exists to uphold the public trust through voluntary certification of fundraising professionals. Jones is a graduate of Auburn, a member of the 2011 Leadership Cobb Class, and a former member of the Rotary Club of Marietta and the Association of Fundraising Professionals, where she served on the Board of Directors.  Gayle is also a graduate of the inaugural cohort of the KSU Women’s Staff Leadership Institute.