Executive Director of Development Marcy Engler to Step Down

After 12 years working at NC State, Executive Director of Development Marcy Engler is leaving the university, effective Jan. 18, 2023. 

As a long-time member of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences community, Engler has served as an extraordinary advancement leader. She built and led the college’s first advanced fundraising unit, skillfully coached and mentored staff, and assisted the dean, Deanna Dannels, and former dean, Jeff Braden, in positioning the college for growth and success.

“Marcy has been an incredible partner in my onboarding and transition as we roll out our new strategic plan, and she has been instrumental in moving this college to a place where we can achieve some remarkable things through philanthropy,” said Dannels. “I am incredibly grateful to Marcy for all she has done for the college and me.”

During Engler’s time as executive director, the college:

• Exceeded its Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign (2016-2021) goal by $6 million, raising a total of $41 million.
• Quadrupled the size of its endowment principal from $8.5 million to $35.5 million.
• Increased the number of Distinguished Professorships in the college from three to seven.
• Received some of the largest gifts in its history, including:
  • An $8.1 million endowment to establish the Moise A. Khayrallah Center for  Lebanese Diaspora Studies, the first endowed center at NC State.
  • The $1 million endowment gift from Tony Brown and his family to support the MFA in Creative Writing program — the largest gift for a humanities department at NC State.
  • A $1 million commitment from Dewayne and Adama Washington, a portion of which will establish the Washington Family Scholars Network Endowment to enhance diversity through recruitment, retention and support efforts.

Engler earned a B.A. in English from Columbia University and an MBA from Yale University School of Management. 

Before joining NC State’s development office, Engler worked at Yale University, first at the Chief Executive Leadership Institute and then in university fundraising. 

As the daughter of a community college English professor and professional writer and editor, she has long been a passionate supporter of the Humanities and Social Sciences.

“My life’s calling is to work toward social justice, and I can point to the stellar students and faculty in our college who have benefited from donor generosity as living embodiments of my work,” said Engler. “I am eternally grateful that NC State and the college have allowed me to live out my values every day.” 

The college will launch a search for its next executive director of development and make an announcement when the process is complete.