Kara Kennedy

Director of External Affairs
(205) 726-4070
kkennedy@samford.edu
DBH 338

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kara Kennedy is a results oriented Public Relations, development and marketing professional that brings nearly two decades of experience in fundraising, public relations and marketing to the Brock School of Business.

Within the first six months as the Director of External Affairs at the Brock School of Business, Kara led the Public Relations team that implemented the successful strategy to brand the Samford School of Business the Brock School of Business.

Early in her marketing and development career, she worked with various gubernatorial campaigns. In 1990, she joined Alabama Governor Guy Hunt's campaign staff, in his second bid for office. After a successful election, she joined the Governor's staff at the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

In 2000, she joined the Birmingham Area Chapter of the American Red Cross in Public Affairs. She was promoted to the American Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington, DC, in 2001, where she worked closely with the Government Relations, Global Security and Disaster Public Affairs and Disaster Fundraising departments. After the tragedy of September 11, 2001, she helped prepare the Red Cross for hearings and press conferences on Capitol Hill. Her work in raising money for disaster relief helped her gain more experience in working one-on-one with volunteers and boards. During her career she has solicited major corporations for sponsorships and funding for a number of organizational projects. Some of those corporations include: Toyota, Maytag, Kirkland's, Wal-Mart and Exxon Corporation.

Kara left the American Red Cross in August 2003, to pursue fundraising and marketing project work with the International Republican Institute. At IRI, she headed efforts for the organization's annual gala that raised more than a half-a-million dollars for IRI's programs.

As a team member with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, she worked with corporations such as General Mills, Target, Starbucks, Wal-Mart, AFLAC, Miller and Coca-Cola on the CBCF's ALC conference. The CBCF ALC Conference raised more than $6 million for scholarships and programs.. She also worked on projects with Congressional Black Caucus members.

In 2006, she formed her consulting firm, Kennedy Resource Development where she works with a variety of clients on marketing and fundraising strategies. Prior to joining the Brock School of Business, Kara worked with The Gaffey Group in Atlanta on John Bruton's, European Union Ambassador to the United States, economic development visit to Alabama.

Kara received her BA, in Communications and Political Science from Auburn University, where she also was a member of Delta Gamma (DG).

Kara is a member of several organizations and associations nationwide including: The Dean's Advisory Council of the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University, Board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Alabama Chapter (AFP). She is a member of the Government Affairs Committee of the Business Council of Alabama, a member of the Atlanta Press Club and an Executive Board Member of the Irish American Arts Awards in New York City.