Kelly Dowling

Kelly Dowling joined Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in January 2023, as Senior Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement.

In her 20+ year career, she has developed a sterling reputation as a philanthropic strategist with a track record of exceeding fundraising goals by infusing best practices into processes, services, and ideas. Her expertise includes reengineering comprehensive fundraising programs, complex principal gifts, faculty research support, alumni relations, staff development, and organizational optimization.

Before joining Embry-Riddle, Dowling served at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook, a tier-one public research institution, where she held the title of assistant vice president for advancement and assistant dean for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Prior to joining the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook, she worked for the University of Central Florida (UCF) Foundation in various positions, including senior director of development for the College of Business, for more than nine years.

She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the UCF College of Business and a bachelor’s degree in Humanities from Stetson University. Her certifications and licenses include recognition as a Project Management Professional (PMP), a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP) and a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).

A prolific speaker, Kelly often speaks on issues related to philanthropy, institutional leadership and the role and experience of women in university advancement. Dowling’s awards have included the Judges Award for best written speech at the Florida Public Relations Association, an Award for Excellence in Special Event Fundraising from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and an Excellence in Fundraising award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals.