Danita Morgan ’81 named associate dean for development and alumni affairs
For Danita Morgan ’81, taking a job at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media feels like coming home. As the school’s new associate dean for development and alumni affairs, she is excited to give back to the first-class educational institution that shaped her life’s path — as an undergraduate, a student in the school's graduate-level certificate program, a volunteer and now as a professional.
Serving as the school’s chief fundraising officer, she will be responsible for leading its comprehensive philanthropic program, strengthening a dynamic team of fundraising professionals and managing the school’s boards — to ensure the school has the private funds vital to its mission and operations.
“In development, we are fortunate to work with our donors to help them align their passion with the goals of our school. I look forward to partnering with Dean Susan King, our faculty, staff, board leaders and our alumni to do just that,” Morgan said. “The top-flight education, leadership, mentorship and sense of community I received at UNC Hussman are unparalleled. I made lifelong friends as a student and am still in touch with some of my professors. I have served on the school’s alumni board for 10 years and am looking forward to serving in a new way. It is a thrill and honor to be back.”
Morgan’s 30-year development career has been devoted to raising funds to advance the missions of important causes. Most recently, Morgan served as director of development for major gifts at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Morgan credits her journalism education with creating the listening and communications skills that enabled her development success.
Prior to joining Lineberger in 2018, Morgan served for six years as vice president of development and communications for Habitat for Humanity of Wake County, then the second largest Habitat affiliate in the U.S. There, she led the development and communications teams, raising over $4 million annually. She has also served as development director at the Urban Ministries of Wake County, the Wildacres Leadership Initiative, Prevent Blindness North Carolina and SAFEchild.
A native of western North Carolina, Morgan launched her development career as membership director and then development director at the NC Center for Public Policy Research.
Prior to her decade serving on the school’s alumni board, she was president of the Wake County Carolina Alumni Club.
“Danita is incredibly qualified and has demonstrated an amazing ability to create relationships with key donors and stakeholders in the Carolina community,” said Greg Johnson, vice president of the school’s Foundation Board. “UNC Hussman is the top-rated journalism school in the country. We have grand ambitions to do even more — to do that we need the fuel to project us forward, and that fuel is fundraising.”
Morgan begins her new role on Aug. 9, 2021. You can reach her at danitajmorgan@gmail.com or (919) 412-8048 until then. New contact information will be posted on hussman.unc.edu after August 9.