Advancement Leadership Update

Cathy Wooton has resigned as Vice President for University Advancement for personal reasons. Vice President Wooton led the Office of University Advancement for the past two years. Her expertise and depth of knowledge will have a lasting impact on the Advancement functions at Idaho State University, positioning ISU  for continued success far into the future.  

Dr. Kandi Turley-Ames has accepted an appointment to serve as the Interim Vice President for Advancement at Idaho State University. Dr. Turley-Ames has been at Idaho State University for 27 years, serving in numerous leadership roles, including Founding Dean for the College of Arts and Letters, Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Assistant Dean and Chair of the Department of Psychology. Additionally, Dr. Turley-Ames brings extensive experience in donor relations to the position. 

Throughout her time at ISU, Dr. Turley-Ames forged strong connections with alumni, community members and leaders in education, business and civic organizations. Dr. Turley-Ames worked closely with her development team to raise over $600,000 for the College of Arts and Letters Faculty Legacy Endowment, establish the ISU Road Scholarship Program, and secure over $1.4 million for the Idaho Needs Connectivity Leading University Distance Education (INCLUDE) program. 

“I would like to thank Cathy for her dedicated leadership of ISU’s Advancement operations. Due to her efforts, we are ready to move forward into an exciting future. As we search for the next Vice President for University Advancement, Dr. Turley-Ames will bring a wealth of experience in donor and alumni engagement to the interim role. Her ability to cultivate strong relationships and her dedication to ISU make her the ideal leader to steer our advancement efforts during this critical time of transition,” said President Robert W. Wagner. 

A national search will begin this fall to select the next Vice President for Advancement at Idaho State University. Ryan Sargent, Associate Vice President for Government and Community Relations, will serve as chair of the search committee. With a decade of experience in the Office of University Advancement, Ryan’s expertise and insights will substantially contribute to the search process. Updates will be provided as the search progresses.