Friend named Director of Annual Giving at USC Upstate

Aly Friend recently joined the University of South Carolina Upstate as the director of annual giving. Friend is responsible for spearheading the faculty and staff giving campaign, administering the private scholarship program, performing ongoing stewardship through events and outreach, producing annual appeal campaigns utilizing a multi-channel approach, and cultivating, soliciting and stewarding a portfolio of annual donors. “Aly brings with her a new level of enthusiasm and positivity, a can-do attitude, and a proven record of forging strong relationships that will drive and further enhance our development efforts,” said Dr. Meredith Brunen, vice chancellor for university advancement and executive director of the USC Upstate Foundation. Before coming to USC Upstate, Friend served as the coordinator of alumni and student programming for the Mizzou Alumni Association, which supports the best interests and traditions of Missouri’s flagship university and its alumni worldwide. In this role, Friend worked with highly motivated and passionate students and volunteers where she educated and advised them on their purpose serving the Mizzou Alumni Association. Friend served as as advancement associate for the University of Missouri after earning her bachelor’s degree in hospitality management. “Having landed in alumni relations and advancement as a recent graduate at Mizzou, I fell in love with the profession and feel very fortunate to continue my career alongside a team of extremely talented, motivated, and supportive individuals at USC Upstate,” said Aly Friend. “It’s an exciting time to be a Spartan, and I look forward to celebrating the success of our students, faculty, and staff; and working with the incredible alumni and friends in the community to propel Upstate to even greater heights.”