The advancement and finance professional joins Elon University from Seton Hall University, where he served as the director of development for the College of Human Development, Culture and Media.
Elon University has named Zane Massey as the director of development for Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, where he will work on supporting programs and initiatives within the university’s largest academic division.
In his new role, Massey will manage a portfolio of alumni, parents, and friends to build scholarship resources and increase engagement to benefit student learning and faculty achievement.
“I am excited to work with Zane, who brings experience in educational advancement and corporate finance,” said Hilton Kelly, Dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences. “He will help continue the support of gifts made to Elon College that will benefit our students, faculty and programs.”
Massey joins Elon from Seton Hall University. In his previous role, Massey stewarded major gifts, provided fundraising counsel to university partners and closed out a five-figure gift.
Before joining Seton Hall University, he served as the director of alumni relations at Xavier High School, his alma mater in New York, where he worked with affinity groups, alumni, parents and a board of directors to manage a donor portfolio of $2 million and founded the Dr. Franklin Caesar Scholarship for students of color, increasing it from $2,500 to $500,000.
Massey said he is excited to bring the financial skills he has developed over the last 25 years to help the College’s mission of serving students and its importance of a liberal arts education.
“This role presents an opportunity to be bigger than any individual,” Massey said. “It’s an opportunity to grow, learn and help usher in a new era as Elon continues to grow and position itself across the nation and world. I’m looking forward to representing the liberal arts and all the possible pathways available for the students.”
Before working in education, Massey worked in finance for Fortune 500 companies in insurance broking, healthcare, medical devices and utilities as a senior cost and reporting analyst.
“I found meaningful work in education, and I see this role as an opportunity to connect donor philanthropy to the goals of the College,” Massey said. “I’m eager to work together with this community to build the next generation of critical thinkers that not only think about the result, but how they achieve the result.”
Massey received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Clark Atlanta University, two master’s degrees in business administration from Fordham University and sports administration from Canisius University and a doctorate in higher education from St. Peter’s University.