Meredith N. Brunen, Ed.D.

Dr. Meredith N. Brunen is a Senior Consultant with Gonser Gerber LLP, providing advancement and leadership consulting services to higher education institutions, arts and cultural organizations, healthcare systems, K–12 schools, foundations, and other mission-driven nonprofits. She advises organizations on all facets of development, comprehensive campaign planning, advancement strategy, donor and alumni engagement, board development, foundations management, integrated marketing and communications, and strengthening advancement operations—particularly during periods of transition and growth. In addition to her consulting work, she supports clients and the field through executive search services and educational offerings delivered through the Gonser Gerber Institute.

Dr. Brunen brings more than 20 years of advancement and executive leadership experience across public and private higher education institutions, as well as mission-driven organizations in the arts and cultural sectors. Most recently, she served as Chief Development Officer for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary, where she provided executive leadership for development operations supporting two internationally recognized cultural institutions. In this role, she focused on stabilizing and strengthening development infrastructure, improving systems and processes, and building a cohesive, high-performing team.

Previously, she held senior advancement roles at Hendrix College, University of West Georgia, University of South Carolina Upstate, University of West Florida, and NorthWest Arkansas Community College. Across these roles, Dr. Brunen has consistently delivered measurable outcomes that demonstrate her ability to grow fundraising, engage constituents, and strengthen advancement operations.

• At Hendrix College, she reimagined alumni engagement and the Hendrix Fund, hired the first dedicated athletic fundraiser, and launched an annual fund for athletics, achieving a 79% increase in unrestricted athletic support, 15% growth in the Hendrix Fund, and a 29% increase in restricted annual giving.
• At UWG, she directed $75M and $50M comprehensive campaigns, managed a $250M asset portfolio, and grew fundraising outcomes by 17% year over year. She supported the Becoming UWG strategic planning process, delivered the first personalized endowment report, and led the record-breaking $1.14M “A Day” campaign to deepen donor and volunteer engagement.
• At USC Upstate, she transformed advancement operations, increased employee engagement scores from 3.37 to 4.08 (21% increase year over year), secured the university’s largest multi-million-dollar legacy gift, and launched initiatives including the inaugural Foundation Scholarship Luncheon and supported a rebranding campaign that elevated alumni engagement and institutional visibility.
• Earlier in her career, she helped celebrate the University of West Florida’s 50th Anniversary $50M campaign and secured a $3M scholarship endowment. At NorthWest Arkansas Community College, she conducted the first faculty and staff giving campaign, achieving 85% participation, while also supporting the college’s first $16M comprehensive campaign.

Dr. Brunen holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Arkansas, grounding her consulting work in both scholarship and practice. She authored Raising the Bar: The Modern Community College Presidency, advancing the field’s understanding of how advancement experience strengthens executive leadership in externally facing roles. She also brings a global perspective shaped by academic training in international relations and Middle East studies and study abroad experience in Morocco—experience that equips her to support organizations with diverse stakeholders and international reach. Dr. Brunen is a frequent presenter on advancement leadership, campaign strategy, and stakeholder engagement, and is widely regarded for bringing clarity, confidence, and momentum to advancement organizations navigating complexity and change.

Education & Achievements

Education

Ed.D., Higher Education Leadership, University of Arkansas

M.Ed., Higher Education Leadership, University of Arkansas

B.A., International Relations and Middle East Studies + French Minor, University of Arkansas

Professional Affiliations & Service

• University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions, Dean’s Executive Advisory Board (2023–Present; Chair-Elect, 2026)
• AFP Global Committees: Women’s Impact; Marketing, Awards & Communications (2023–2024)
• Network of Executive Women (NextUp), Atlanta Chapter Mentor (2021–2022)
• Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Member (2005–Present)

Honors

• University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions Outstanding Young Alumni Award (2019)
• Northwest Arkansas Business Women’s Conference Young Woman of the Year (2014)

Personal

Residence: Maumelle, Arkansas

Family: Married to Kyle Brunen, a health and wellness professional, and mother of two young sons, Jude and Beau