Georgia State Names Marla Vickers Vice President for University Advancement and President of the GSU Foundation

ATLANTA-Georgia State University has appointed Marla A. Vickers as its next vice president for University Advancement and president of the Georgia State University Foundation.

Vickers brings more than two decades of experience in higher education advancement and nonprofit leadership, with a track record of building high-performing teams, cultivating strong donor relationships and leading major fundraising initiatives at some of the nation's leading universities.

She was most recently at Florida State University, where she served as vice president for University Advancement and president of the FSU Foundation. Under Vickers' leadership, Florida State recorded its largest fundraising year in university history in 2026, raising $235.4 million. She also served as the primary architect of FSU's new $2 billion comprehensive campaign.

"Marla brings an exceptional combination of fundraising expertise, strategic leadership and a deep understanding of what it takes to build lasting relationships with donors and alumni," said Georgia State President M. Brian Blake. "Her experience leading advancement at major research universities, coupled with her knowledge of Atlanta and her commitment to the transformative role of higher education, makes her an outstanding addition to Georgia State's leadership team."

Vickers has deep ties to Atlanta. Before joining Florida State, she served as associate vice president of Advancement at Emory University, where she provided strategic leadership to nine school- and unit-based fundraising teams and helped shape Emory's $4 billion comprehensive campaign.

Her career also includes advancement leadership positions at Yale University, the University of Chicago, George Washington University, Duke University and Georgetown University.

At Georgia State, Vickers will lead the university's advancement and alumni enterprise and work with university leaders, colleges and schools, alumni, donors, faculty, staff, students and community partners to strengthen philanthropic support and advance the university's strategic priorities.

"I'm honored to lead the university's philanthropy and engagement efforts at such a pivotal moment in its history," Vickers said. "Sharing President Blake's bold vision with GSU's supporters is deeply meaningful to me as a native Georgian who cares about this university and its impact across our state and region. I'm excited for GSU, as a community and an advancement team, to show how philanthropy can accelerate that vision and create lasting, transformational change for our students, faculty and communities. Together, we can shape a future that elevates every corner of the university."

Vickers holds a Doctor of Education from Vanderbilt University, an MBA from George Washington University, a master's degree from Florida State University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia. She is a Certified Fund-Raising Executive.

She will begin her new role at Georgia State Oct. 1.