WKU News

Amanda Trabue is returning to the Hill as the Vice President for Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement at WKU.

Trabue, Associate Dean of the Peabody College of Education & Human Development at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, will assume her new role at WKU June 17.

Trabue began her development career as Coordinator and Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving at WKU in 2002. In 2005, she became the Director of Development for the Gordon Ford College of Business at WKU.

In 2008 she became the Regional Director of Development for Major Gifts and Capital Projects at Washington University in St. Louis. She joined Vanderbilt University in 2010 as the Director of Development for Peabody College and was named Associate Dean in 2015.

Trabue earned two degrees from WKU: a bachelor’s in marketing and a master’s of business administration.

WKU President Timothy C. Caboni said, “Amanda’s 17 years of experience in development and alumni relations will be valuable in her new role. We’re thrilled to welcome her back to the Hill.”

Trabue said, “I am honored to return to the Hill and work alongside the dedicated staff of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement to support the strategic vision of President Caboni. Meaningful engagement of our alumni and community partners to ensure student success, faculty excellence and innovation will be critical to WKU’s long-term success as an economic driver in our region and commonwealth. I am incredibly excited to join a motivated team of dynamic professionals at such a critical time in the university’s history.” 

John Paul Blair has served as WKU’s Interim Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement since 2017. He will become Special Assistant to the President for Philanthropy and Leadership Giving.

“John Paul has led the organization to its highest fundraising totals in WKU’s history and has also managed through some of the more difficult budgetary challenges we’ve faced in recent history,” President Caboni said. “In his new role, he will use his 20 years of experience at WKU to continue to engage with our largest donors in ways that keeps them involved in the life of the institution.”

Contact: Bob Skipper, (270) 745-4295