UAB Advancement will welcome Dr. Racheal Banks as the new Executive Director of Development for Professional Schools starting July 6.
Racheal will lead comprehensive fundraising and alumni strategies for the schools of Dentistry, Health Professions, Nursing, Optometry, and Public Health.
In this leadership role, Racheal will design and implement plans to engage principal gift donors and prospects with senior leadership, enhancing opportunities for transformational gifts. She will collaborate with teams in the assigned schools to identify fundraising opportunities and develop compelling proposals for top donors.
“I am thrilled to have Racheal join UAB as the new Executive Director of Development for Professional Schools,” said David Allen, Associate Vice President for Development. “With her track record of raising more than $100 million while leading high-performing, results-driven development teams, she brings robust experience and leadership to the professional schools. Rachael is a supportive leader with demonstrated experience leading large teams and working with deans and academic leaders to strategically advance fundraising initiatives. Her team approach and background securing principal gifts for health initiatives stood out during the interview process. Rachael is an authentic, genuine listener who builds trust and confidence with those she works with, and I look forward to working with her to accomplish great things for UAB’s professional schools.”
Racheal comes to UAB with more than 20 years of experience leading fundraising operations within higher education and academic medical center environments. This includes serving in leadership positions as the Vice President of Advancement and Associate Vice President for Development at Spring Hill College, as well as her role as the development director at the University of South Alabama, where she built and managed comprehensive fundraising programs across medical, academic, and hospital initiatives. Racheal has also served in development and alumni relations roles at the University of Montevallo.
Racheal has a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Alabama, a master of public administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a bachelor of science in psychology from the University of Montevallo.
