Karen Bruce Serving as Gardner-Webb Interim Vice President for Advancement

Experience Includes Higher Ed Administration, Alumni and Student Engagement

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Karen Bruce has been named interim vice president of Advancement at Gardner-Webb. She will remain in this role while Nate Evans, former vice president of Advancement, is serving as the University’s interim president. Bruce came to GWU in 2024, after serving eight years at Faulkner University, a private school in Montgomery, Ala.

At Gardner-Webb, Bruce has worked to improve efficiency in the Office of Advancement. She led a successful launch of a planned giving partnership, refined operational processes, and managed personnel to align with organizational goals.

Gardner-Webb Interim President Nate Evans praised Bruce for her innovation and leadership. “Since day one, Karen has been a contributing member of the Advancement team,” Evans stated. “She brings a strong work ethic and enthusiasm to everything she does. As Interim VP, Karen is well-positioned to guide the team forward and build on the momentum she’s helped create.”

Bruce has also been responsible for managing data to support strategic decision-making and fundraising initiatives. As such, she works closely with Gardner-Webb frontline staff to provide critical research, create targeted communication lists, and support annual giving campaigns.

“I’m honored by the opportunity to serve as interim vice president for Advancement,” Bruce asserted. “It’s a privilege to support the Christian mission of this institution and work alongside such a dedicated team. I look forward to building on GWU’s strategic objectives of growth and excellence while pursuing new and existing opportunities for partnerships and successes that serve both our campus and the broader community.”

In her previous position as director of Alumni Gifts and Engagement at Faulkner, she researched, negotiated and implemented a new crowdfunding giving system which achieved over 1,800% improvement in year-over-year “Giving Tuesday” contributions plus a 33-passenger executive coach bus donated for athletics. She also served seven years as director and assistant professor of Faulkner’s Birmingham Campus. In this role, she ensured academic integrity and communicated extensively with key stakeholders at all levels to attain goals and institutional support. She was also responsible for recruiting faculty, administrative and student support staff. Bruce taught undergraduate courses in business, accounting, management, and professional writing.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.