Berkery to lead annual giving program
Jana Berkery
Starkville native Jana Berkery is the new director of Mississippi State's annual giving program.
A university alumnae, Berkery began her new duties June 16. She joined the MSU Foundation in 2013 and has been serving as the giving program's associate director.
The MSU Annual Fund provides an avenue for donors to support any area of the university. Gifts may be designated specifically for a college or school, academic department, scholarship fund or any other area.
The program also includes a telefunding center that employs some 50 students to make telephone solicitations of alumni and friends. In addition to solicitations, center staff members work to update MSU Alumni Association records during the contact process.
Berkery graduated in 2005 with a degree in sports communication and a minor in marketing. She began working at her alma mater in 2011 as coordinator of annual giving for the Bulldog Club athletic fundraising organization.
She also has previous higher education experience with Mississippi University for Women and University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Jack McCarty, the foundation's executive director of development, said Berkery "brings energy, enthusiasm, and substantial experience to her new role.
"She has a passion for MSU, and it was a natural progression for her to assume leadership of the program," he added.
Mississippi State, a 137-year-old land-grant institution, has more than 130,000 living alumni. Through written, telephone, e-mail and social media communications, its foundation works to engage as many alumni and friends as possible.
"Building a quality base of donors, and raising money that is immediately spendable is critical to advance MSU, and we have a great tradition of annual giving at MSU that can continue through Jana's efforts," McCarty said.
Foundation offices are located in the Hunter Henry Center. For more information, visit www.msufoundation.com.
Berkery may be reached at jberkery@foundation.msstate.edu or 662-325-5975.
Discover more about Mississippi's flagship research university at www.msstate.edu or www.meridian.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstate, instagram.com/msstate and twitter.com/msstate using the hashtag #WeRingTrue.
Amy Cagle | MSU Foundation
