Clark Atlanta University (CAU) President, Ronald A. Johnson announced the appointment of Sam D. Burston to the position of vice president and chief advancement officer, a press release sent to EBONY states.

Burston will be tasked with overseeing CAU fundraising efforts, public relations and marketing, media relations and advancement services.

“Sam Burston is one of America’s most respected advocates for higher education opportunity,” Johnson said. “His work at the United Negro College Fund through special events alone, resulted in increased revenues, from $3.1 million to $9.1 million in only five years, increased national visibility and, most important, exponential impact in the lives of deserving young scholars.”

Burston has served as the national director for the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) since 2011. He has 20 years of executive-level development experience, which he’ll be bringing to his new appointment.

In 1997, Burston served as UNCF’s area director and became the organization’s regional director of workplace initiatives in 2003. From 2005 to 2011, he occupied the position of UNCF’s regional development director, where he managed a staff that included six area directors.

As the organization’s national director, he was responsible for constituent initiatives “among national groups and professional organizations, faith-based campaigns and programs among other key donor segments. His portfolio included oversight of nearly 90 annual initiatives, from national broadcasts, to signature galas, to alumni and pre-alumni development conferences” the release states.

“My experiences with UNCF are ones that I treasure,” Burston said in a statement. “They continue to illuminate my professional path. I’ve had the honor of working with development professionals across the U.S. The relationships I’ve developed and the successess achieved by our UNCF team are irreplaceable. My decision to join the advancement team at Clark Atlanta will allow me to channel those experiences into work that I believe will ultimately impact how others view the role of HBCUs in heightening and sustaining America’s global competitiveness.”