AMERICUS —  

The Georgia Southwestern Foundation, Inc. has named Reda K. Rowell, director of development at Clayton State University (CSU) in Morrow, as its executive director, effective Dec. 3. Rowell succeeds Boyce E. “Stick” Miller.

“We are pleased to have Reda join the Foundation and the GSW family,” said Jimmy Skipper, chairman of the Foundation Board of Trustees. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in working with the Board of Regents, university administrators and staff, foundation members, students, and people interested in supporting a university like Georgia Southwestern with their time, talents, and resources. GSW is one of our community’s greatest success stories, and Reda will certainly help the Foundation, the University, and our community continue to build on that success.”

Rowell comes to the Foundation after spending the last 16 years in progressively responsible roles at Clayton State. Having begun as budget manager of CSU Continuing Education, Rowell moved into the Development and Alumni Affairs Office in 2001. Prior to that, she worked at Loggins and Associates, CP, a CPA firm in Jonesboro. Rowell is looking forward to her new role.

“I am excited about moving to Americus and joining the GSW team,” said Rowell. “I've received such a warm welcome already. My whole career has been about relationship building in one form or another. I am a believer in the transformative power of education and have a strong sense of dedication and community service.”

At CSU, Rowell led successful efforts to secure the University’s first $1 million gift and its first $1 million planned gift. Serving as de facto executive director of the CSU Foundation, she created and led adoption of the Foundation’s investment and spending policy and fund management policy. Rowell also helped lead the creation and operation of the CSU Foundation’s LLC I and II, which culminated in the building of CSU’s first on-campus housing and student center and the purchase of an 854-bed housing complex.

Having spent her entire working career in the Clayton County area, Rowell is recognized as an extremely involved member of the community. In 2011, she was a finalist for Clayton County Business Women of the Year; in 2007, she was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Lake Spivey; and in 1995, she was named Pacesetter of the Year by the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce.

Rowell is an alumna of Clayton State where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management and a Master of Arts in history. She and her husband, Kelly, have two adult children and one grandchild.