The mission of Institutional Advancement at the University of West Alabama is to provide leadership, expertise, support and implementation in the areas of fundraising, donor relations, grant management, alumni relations and communications. In accordance with our University mission, Institutional Advancement is committed to finding the appropriate resources to help UWA meet the state’s educational needs, particularly in the West Alabama region.
Institutional Advancement consists of the following departments:
Meet Our Staff
Office of the Vice President

Dr. J.J. Wedgworth
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
jwedgworth@uwa.edu
(205) 652-5459

Lynda Harwell
Foundation Accounting Specialist
lharwell@uwa.edu
(205) 652-3552
Alumni Affairs

Banks Gordy
Director of Alumni Affairs
bgordy@uwa.edu
(205) 652-3867

Anna Gaston Johnson
Alumni Engagement & Scholarship Coordinator
ajohnson@uwa.edu
(205) 652-5514
Development

Christopher Lucas
Director of Development
clucas@uwa.edu

Kathleen Upchurch
Stewardship, Donor Engagement & Research Coordinator
kupchurch@uwa.edu
(205) 652-3586

Gary Rundles
Development Officer
rrundles@uwa.edu
(205) 652-3870

Garrett Webb
Development Officer
swebb@uwa.edu
(205) 652-3866