Karen Wilson-Stevenson

Interim Vice President of the Office for Institutional Advancement

Karen Wilson-StevensonAs an expert in leading and managing high-level corporate, foundation, and individual major gift solicitations, including primary collaboration/partnership resulting in single largest individual eight-figure gift to National NAACP, Karen Wilson-Stevenson brings a wealth of expertise and hands-on experience in running a development department in higher education and national non- profit and successfully rebuilding a development department and relationships.

As President and CEO of Calyxse, Inc. (Columbia, MD and Madison, MS), Wilson-Stevenson has led strategic and comprehensive fund, corporate foundation, alumni development, conference and event services, development services, business management services and program development for non-profit, private, and academic organizations. In addition, she has led strategic brand/marketing, communications, government relations, initiative and alliance-building, entrepreneurial and organizational capacity/training of public, private, and nonprofit organizations.

Wilson-Stevenson’s recent work experience includes serving as Director of Institutional Advancement with The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles, CA, Lead Consultant/Program Director of the Delta Cultural Resources Project with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Services, Jackson, MS, Executive Director of the SonEdna Foundation in Charleston, MS, Vice President, Office for Institutional Advancement and Chief Advancement Officer of Tougaloo College, where she created corporate strategic and partnership initiatives to increase academic, experiential and investment opportunities that drove 20% increase in Tougaloo College alumni giving/participation within first six months.

Wilson-Stevenson earned a B.A. in Paleopathology from Case Western Reserve University; completed Research and Development, Agency Management and Statistics Coursework from the Department of Graduate Studies at Case Western Reserve University; and earned an EMBA from the Executive MBA Program at the University of Maryland, University College, in Adelphi, MD. Wilson-Stevenson will be receiving her Ph.D., from the Executive Ph.D. Program of Jackson State University, Jackson, MS (anticipated completion/graduation is May 2022).