CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State University Director of Athletics Mike Thomas announced today the appointment of Saunjula Staton as the Director of Athletics Advancement, effective immediately.
Staton, who has high-level experience in annual fundraising, major gifts, planned giving and strategic event hosting, will oversee all aspects of athletic fundraising efforts and work with athletics staff and coaches to develop fundraising strategies for the Department of Athletics.
"I'm excited to work with the athletics department in building up a robust fundraising program that will grow the annual fund, major gifts and eventually planned giving programs for the future of CSU athletics," Staton said. "I look forward to meeting more students, alums, family and friends of CSU athletics to further develop the case for annual support."
For the last two years, Staton has served as the Director of Advancement for the NEOMED & CSU partnership, as well as CSU athletics. In her role, she has built up the fundraising infrastructure of the programs, while cultivating approximately 150 major prospects in support of a $100 million comprehensive campaign. Staton and Dr. Edgar Jackson were recently featured on NewsChannel 5 to build up scholarship support for the NEOMED partnership.
In February, Staton was instrumental in helping CSU athletics attain more than 500 new donors for Giving Day, the most of all CSU colleges and departments.
Prior to arriving at CSU, Staton was the co-owner of Staton Sports (2014-15) and served for eight years at Oberlin College as the Assistant Director of Leadership Giving (2006-10) and the Director of 25th Reunion Giving (2006-14) where she developed a recurring gift program which saw a significant increase in recurring and major gifts, part of the 300 million Oberlin Illuminate campaign.
Staton also has experience as the Director of Development and Special Events at the Lorain County Urban League (2003-05) and as the Executive Director of Save Our Children (1998-03).