A&T Taps Seasoned Development Leader as Interim Advancement VC

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Sept. 28, 2026) – A longtime development professional with experience at five historically Black colleges and universities and a leading research university has been selected to serve as interim vice chancellor for University Advancement at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, school leaders announced today.

Leandra Hayes-Burgess has more than 25 years of experience advancing the missions of colleges, universities and nonprofit organizations, including two decades in senior executive leadership. Over the course of her career, she has helped secure more than $70 million in philanthropic and institutional support for academic programs, student success initiatives and strategic priorities.

She begins work at A&T on Monday, Sept. 28.

“Even though we are a public university, securing private support is vital to meet many of our needs, especially at a time when operating costs have risen substantially across the board,” said Chancellor James R. Martin II. “Vice Chancellor Hayes-Burgess understands how necessary private support is for the ongoing success of North Carolina A&T, and I look forward to her leadership in growing the number of individuals, families, businesses and foundations supporting the most exciting doctoral research HBCU in America.”

Most recently, Hayes-Burgess served as vice president for Institutional Advancement at Benedict College in Columbia, S.C., where she led a comprehensive advancement enterprise encompassing fundraising, alumni relations, government relations, corporate and foundation relations and communications and marketing.

Prior to Benedict, Hayes-Burgess was senior development director at the University of Miami, assistant vice president for major and planned gifts at Claflin University and assistant vice president for Institutional Advancement at Talladega College. She also held prior roles as director of development at Bennett College for Women and assistant vice president for institutional advancement and director of alumni affairs at Livingstone College.

At North Carolina A&T, she will lead a division that secured nearly $32 million in private support for the university in FY2026. University Advancement includes a full Development operation (planned gifts, corporate giving, annual giving and donor relations), Alumni Relations and Advancement Operations. The division also has dotted-line relationships to affiliated entities, such as the Aggie Athletic Fund and the North Carolina A&T Foundation. 

“Vice Chancellor Hayes-Burgess is steeped in higher education advancement culture, and intimately understands both HBCU and research university culture,” said North Carolina A&T Chief of Staff TaJuan Wilson, Ed.D. “Her experience, leadership in the advancement profession and engaging personality will make her a strong asset to our university during her interim service.”