Bryant Group Fills Senior Post for Belmont University
March 26, 2026 – Dallas-based executive search and talent development firm Bryant Group has assisted in the recruitment of Michele Miller as associate vice president for advancement services at Belmont University. Executive search director Colleen Rogers Aivazian conducted a nationwide search. “I am thrilled to welcome Michele Miller to Belmont University as our new associate vice president for advancement services,” said David Rosselli, executive vice president for university advancement at Belmont. “Throughout our conversations with her, it was clear that Michele brings the leadership skills, operational rigor, strategic mindset and collaborative spirit that we need in this role. We are excited to have her join the team in this key leadership role as we continue to grow the advancement program at Belmont and achieve even greater success through the Hope Transforms campaign.”
Ms. Miller is a dynamic advancement professional with more than two decades of leadership experience in non-profit philanthropy spanning higher education, human services and cultural organizations. Her expertise includes campaign management, strategic planning, prospect development, advancement services, stewardship and talent development. She has led organizations toward data-informed cultures, developed data strategies that strengthen fundraising outcomes and built high-performing teams across her career.
Prior to her role at Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, Ms. Miller served as vice president of advancement operations at the Purdue for Life Foundation, executive director of advancement services at Ball State University Foundation and executive director of advancement services at Butler University.
In her new position, Ms. Miller will strengthen the systems and strategies that drive Belmont’s fundraising success — from donor analytics and prospect development to gift administration and advancement technology. She will work closely with development colleagues across campus to deepen donor engagement and support Belmont’s ambitious philanthropic goals, including the Hope Transforms campaign. Her track record of building data-savvy, high-performing teams positions her well to help Belmont reach new levels of fundraising impact.
“It’s a privilege to join the advancement team at Belmont, especially as we redefine what advancement means for the university,” said Ms. Miller. “Belmont’s values resonate for me both personally and professionally, and I’m ready to partner with this team to build a data-driven strategy that makes a genuine difference.”
Related: Bryant Group Assists Whatcom Hospice Foundation with Executive Director Search
Belmont University is a private, coeducational university located in Nashville, TN. It offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across a range of disciplines, including business, health sciences, liberal arts, music, and law. The institution emphasizes a comprehensive educational experience that integrates academic study with practical and experiential learning opportunities. It was founded in 1890.
Serving Universities, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profits
Bryant Group specializes in advancement, fundraising, and leadership for universities, hospitals, and other non-profits. Its services include recruiting, talent development, and leadership coaching. The organization’s higher education clients include Stanford University, Harvard University, Michigan State University, Baylor University, the University of New Mexico, and others. Its healthcare clients include UCLA Center for the Health Sciences, the Mayo Clinic in both Minnesota and Arizona, Henry Ford Health Systems, Betty Ford Center, to name just a few. Its other non-profit clients include the American Heart Association, March of Dimes in both California and New York, the J. Paul Getty Trust, and more.
Bryant Group has been retained to recruit the vice chancellor for advancement and executive director for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and the University of Chattanooga Foundation. Katie Riecke is leading the assignment. “We are seeking a dynamic leader to advance the mission of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga through strong relationships and purposeful action,” said Lori Bruce, chancellor. “This individual will play a critical role in shaping University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s future by turning opportunity into impact.”
Bryant Group is led by CEO Sally Bryant. She joined the search firm in 2007 and brings 30 years of experience in advancement management, consulting and recruiting, as well as achievements from the corporate sales arena and success in other entrepreneurial activities. Christopher P. Bryant, co-founder and advisor of Bryant Group, is a leader in the recruitment of advancement, development, and fundraising professionals. In 1988, he helped start what the firm describes as the country’s first executive search firm to specialize exclusively in philanthropy recruitment.
Bryant Group is the successor firm, established in 2002. Now under the leadership of Ms. Bryant, the woman-owned firm focuses on advancing great leadership through executive search, leadership coaching and interim leadership services. Bryant Group has impacted more than 10,000 leaders and served more than 270 organizations.
With more than 15 years of recruiting experience, Ms. Rogers Aivazian is a leader in non-profit executive search, known for her authentic and candid engagement with both clients and candidates. “I love partnering with clients and candidates who are doing their part to change the world,” she said. “Their passion for the work they do is contagious, and I enjoy playing a role in their success.”
Related: Bryant Group Fills Senior Finance Role for HonorHealth Foundation
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
