Behind every scholarship, renovated classroom, and innovative academic program is generosity that helps make it possible. In this issue, meet our Atlanta-based gift officers—the people who listen to alumni stories, build relationships with donors, and help turn generosity into opportunities for students at Morehouse College.
These fundraising professionals are members of the Morehouse family and champions of Morehouse Mission. Get to know why they do this work and how you can partner with them.
James Shaw ’87
Associate Vice President of Principal Gifts
Email: james.shaw@morehouse.edu
Education/Certifications: Bachelor of Arts in English, Morehouse; Master of Divinity, School of Theology, Virginia Union University.
Years with Morehouse College: 14 years
Specialty Area: Principal and major gift fundraising, relationship management, and alumni and board engagement.
What I like most about my job: “What I like most about my job is the opportunity to help shape the future of a place that has shaped me. As a Morehouse alumnus and someone who has been here for 14 years, I have a deep personal connection to the College. In my role, I get to build relationships with people who believe in Morehouse and help turn that belief into meaningful support for our students, our institution, and its future.”
Justin R. Nwokeji
Executive Director of Development, Academic Divisions
Email: justin.nwokeji@morehouse.edu
Education/Certifications: Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Master’s degree in Planning, PennWest University.
Years with Morehouse College: 3 years
Specialty Area: Major gift fundraising, donor engagement, and philanthropic strategy supporting Morehouse’s academic divisions, including Business & Economics, STEM, and Humanities, Social Sciences, Media & Arts.
What I like most about my job: “I enjoy connecting people who care deeply about Morehouse with opportunities to make a meaningful and lasting impact on our students, faculty, and academic programs.”
Michael E. Cade
Director of Development
Email: michael.cade@morehouse.edu
Education/Certifications: Bachelor’s degree in business management from Howard University and a Certificate in Nonprofit Organizations from Case Western Reserve University.
Years with Morehouse College: Five years.
Specialty Area: Athletics, Student Services, and Professional & Continuing Studies.
What I like most about my job: “I enjoy building relationships with graduates, donors, faculty, students— especially the Office of Institutional Advancement’s Student Ambassadors—and community members who share a connection with this institution. What I truly love about my position is that it combines my 30-plus years of experience as an advancement professional with my personal love for HBCUs and their missions. Being a proud HBCU graduate and having worked at four other HBCUs previously, I truly understand the traditions, culture, challenges, and impact of an HBCU in a way an outsider may not."
Howard Davis Jr.
Senior Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations
Email: howard.davis@morehouse.edu
Education/Certifications: Bachelor’s degree and CFRE (Certified Fund-Raising Executive) credential.
Years with Morehouse College: Less than one year.
Specialty Area: Institutional Philanthropy
What I like most about my job: “Throughout my career, I have been most energized by bringing people and institutions together around a shared sense of purpose. I enjoy listening, understanding what matters to others, and finding the point where their respective interests intersect. At Morehouse, that work carries special meaning. I have the opportunity to learn about the remarkable work of our students, faculty, and leadership—including the expertise our faculty bring as educators, scholars, and researchers—and build relationships with corporations and foundations that can help advance it. The most rewarding part is seeing those relationships grow into partnerships that create opportunities for students and faculty and produce lasting value and impact for Morehouse and our partners.”
Jenneh Scott
Director of Development, Humanities, Social Sciences, Media, and Arts
Email: jenneh.scott@morehouse.edu
Education/Certifications: Bachelor’s degree, Georgia State University
Years with Morehouse College: Nearly four years
Specialty Area: Major gifts, with a focus on the Humanities, Social Sciences, Media and Arts, and connecting donors with academic programs, student experiences, and institutional priorities across Morehouse.
What I like most about my job: “I enjoy building relationships with people who care deeply about Morehouse and helping them find meaningful ways to make a difference. I especially enjoy working with faculty and students to understand what they need to thrive, then connecting those opportunities with donors who can help make them possible.”
Johntavis “John” Williams ’17
Director of Leadership Gifts
Email: Johntavis.williams@morehouse.edu
Education/Certifications: Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Morehouse College, and Association of Fundraising Professionals Diversity Fellow.
Years with Morehouse College: 6 years
Specialty Area: Leadership Giving, Alumni Engagement, Donor Relations, Annual Giving, and Fundraising Strategy
What I like most about my job: “What I enjoy most about my job is building meaningful relationships with alumni and donors and helping them connect their passions to opportunities that make a lasting difference at Morehouse. As an alumnus, it is especially meaningful to help create opportunities for current and future Men of Morehouse while strengthening the institution that has had such a significant impact on my own life.”