Corporate and Foundation Relations

Corporate partnerships are vital to the University of Memphis' ongoing success in a variety of meaningful ways including workforce development, philanthropic giving, research and thought leadership. The Office of Corporate & Foundation Relations offers a "one-stop shop" to explore a variety of ways to engage with the UofM. Whether through student engagement, technology transfer and commercialization, sponsored research, or executive education, we strive to build mutually beneficial partnerships that align business goals and initiatives with the University's most dynamic resources: our students and our faculty.

Corporate Strategy Council

Given the breadth of involvement of our partners, the UofM has launched an interdisciplinary council, comprised of faculty and staff from across the University. The Corporate Strategy Council has been working to create a strategic plan to deepen relationships with current corporate partners and to engage new partners with the following goals:

(1) match corporate objectives with UofM resources and vice versa
(2) identify mutually beneficial relationships with opportunities for transformational partnership
(3) highlight opportunities for ongoing executive engagement

Corporate Strategy Council Members:

Kimberly Grantham, Advancement/Corporate & Foundation Relations (Chair)
Susan Armacost, Advancement/Major Gifts
Stephanie Beasley, Office of the President/Strategic Initiatives
Joanna Curtis, Advancement
Dipankar Dasgupta, College of Arts & Sciences/Computer Science
Mary Ann Dawson, FedEx Institute of Technology
Kristie Goldsmith, Alumni Association
Alisha Henderson, Career Services
Deborah Hernandez, Research Development
Stephanie Ivey, Herff College of Engineering
Todd Kucinski, Athletics/Tiger Sports Properties
Justin Lawhead, Student Academic Success
Richard Irwin, Academic Innovation & Support Services
Stephen Macy, Athletics
Ladrica Menson-Furr, Department of English/African & African American Studies
Chuck Pierce, Fogelman College of Business & Economics
Sally Parish, Student Leadership & Involvement
Courtney Shelton, Conference & Event Services
Holly Snyder, Marketing & Communications
Ted Townsend, Economic Development & Government Affairs
Adam Walker, Athletics