WASHINGTON – The Howard University Office of Development and Alumni Relations is pleased to announce that Dawn L. Ridley will lead the University’s corporate and foundation giving strategy as assistant vice president of institutional giving. Alongside Ridley, Ragan D. R. Royal, assistant vice president of individual giving, will lead the University’s strategy to increase personal gifts. 

“The importance of a Howard University education has been catapulted to center stage,” said David P. Bennett, vice president of development and alumni relations. “Dawn Ridley and Ragan Royal each bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and strategic thinking that will help us effectively engage the philanthropic organizations, corporate partners and individuals that want to contribute to the Howard University mission.”

Ridley is an expert in business development, marketing and corporate partnerships. Before joining Howard, she worked as the strategy and planning director for AARP Services, Inc., where she led the strategy development for AARP-endorsed financial products and services and served as chair of the AARP Black Caucus Employee Resource Group. She is the founder and president of Gamma Innovation Group, a consulting firm that helps companies achieve revenue and engagement goals by providing marketing strategy and consumer insights.  

“I am excited to join Howard University, and I look forward to working with corporations and foundations to further the University’s mission through philanthropy,” said Ridley. “My goal is to ensure that when institutional members of the philanthropic community seek to address challenges in higher education, social justice and health equity, they understand the critical role that Howard University plays on each front and that they understand how the work we’re doing at the University aligns with their philanthropic and impact goals.” 

In addition to working as the director of corporate partnerships for National Geographic Society, Ridley has an extensive background in leading business development for a variety of sports companies. She served as vice president of business development for D.C. United and was responsible for managing and directing what was then a $750 million retail licensing business as senior vice president for NFL PLAYERS after being promoted from senior vice president of corporate marketing and business development. Ridley is currently on faculty at Georgetown University and American University. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a master of business administration from Clark Atlanta University. 

Royal has more than 20 years of experience in education fund development and alumni relations. She joins Howard from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where she led a team to reach a $400 million capital campaign goal. She served as associate vice president of development at the University of Maryland Global Campus (formerly the University of Maryland University College) and has held leadership roles at other universities, including Tuskegee University, Syracuse University, Michigan State University and Howard University, where she previously served as the director of development.  

“It is exciting for me to return to Howard at this time in the country’s history,” said Royal. “Howard has consistently been at the epicenter of highlighting and underscoring the capabilities and accomplishments of Black, indigenous and people of color. I look forward to partnering with all to enhance philanthropic investments at Howard and create opportunity for students to realize their dreams and showcase their talent on the world stage.”

Royal is the founder and fund development consultant for Royal Concepts, Inc., where she often consults with colleges and universities on best practice techniques to maximize their philanthropic efforts. Royal earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communications from Wayne State University and a master’s degree in philanthropic studies at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. 

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About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

Media Contact: Misha Cornelius, misha.cornelius@howard.edu