University of Findlay

During her tenure, The University of Findlay has seen an increase in both undergraduate and graduate enrollment and a significant increase in international students.  She has been instrumental in forging partnerships with Chinju National University of Education and The Global Vision Christian School in South Korea, Rakuno Gakuen University in Japan, RAK College of Pharmacy in the United Arab Emirates and others.

Fell previously served as vice president for advancement at Centenary College, Shreveport, La., where she had been chief development officer since 2000. 

A native of Stamps, Ark., she earned a bachelor of science in education in English, with a minor in speech, from Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, and a master of arts in English from Louisiana Technical University in Ruston. She completed a Ph.D. in English from Texas A&M University at College Station.  

Fell began her tenure at Centenary in 1986 in the department of English. During her 14 years of teaching, she developed an interdisciplinary major in communication, which grew to become one of the college’s strongest majors; taught a variety of introductory and upper-level English courses; published scholarly articles and presented at conferences. 

When Centenary was selected to participate in a nationwide project on transformation in higher education sponsored by the American Council on Education and the Kellogg Foundation, Fell led Centenary’s ACE-Kellogg team and contributed to an ACE article on how to achieve essential change on a private, church-related college campus. She served as a member of the Pew Higher Education Roundtable, sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts. 

Fell moved to administration as a member of the development team, first as director of foundation and corporate relations from 1998-2000 and then as director of development from 2000-2004. After joining the development team, she assisted with the successful completion of a fundraising campaign for which the institution set an initial goal of $70 million, increased it to $90 million and reached a total of $103 million. She worked with senators and representatives to secure $3 million in grants for the sciences and campus security. Her staff’s work with the state government resulted in five first-generation scholarships, 88 endowed professorships, two endowed chairs and one endowed super chair in communications, representing a total in private and state donations of $13.3 million. 

She was named vice president for advancement at Centenary in 2004, and led the launch of a new comprehensive campaign, “Fulfill the Promise,” which in two years raised gifts and pledges totaling $40 million. During her years at Centenary, the college’s endowment tripled to more than $120 million at its high point. 

Fell and her husband, Roger, are the parents of six children.