Laura Miller McCall

Director of Development, West Virginia University College of Business and Economics

Facebook: www.facebook.com/wvucobe
Twitter: @wvucobe
LinkedIn: be.wvu.edu/social
Website: be.wvu.edu/enews

Growing up in the small town of Paden City, WV, Laura Miller McCall was a born fundraiser. From Girl Scout cookies to wrapping paper, community events to telethons, she always strived to raise the most money or sell the most items. “I could ask anyone for anything,” she says, “and I learned at an early age not to take rejection personally or let it stand in my way.”

Coupled with the work ethic instilled by her parents, this philanthropic spirit and drive to excel propelled McCall into a successful career. From her first job as a babysitter to her first professional job as a program assistant at Wake Area Health Education Center in Raleigh, NC, she honed her abilities and created a skillset that has brought her great success.

“My first job paid very little money, so I had to work as a waitress on the weekends,” she recalls. “It was such a great opportunity that I didn’t let the salary keep me from accepting it.” It was during this time that McCall realized she enjoyed working and interacting with people and decided she wanted a career building and cultivating relationships in her home state.

She moved back to West Virginia in 2004 to be close to her family. “As a native, I was under the impression I had to leave the state to be successful, but after seven years, I realized I was educated, experienced and marketable,” McCall says. “I knew I could be successful, so I decided to move my career to West Virginia and come home.”

McCall has spent the last 10 years working to secure private support for her alma mater, West Virginia University (WVU). She has traveled the country representing WVU’s colleges and schools, the health sciences and the Mountaineer Athletic Club, and she now works as the director of development for the WVU College of Business and Economics (B&E). Her abilities have earned her a stellar reputation as one of the leading fundraisers at WVU. Under her leadership, B&E has raised more than $18 million in funding in the past two years. She spends time getting to know state business leaders and graduates and forging relationships that will benefit the school, its students and the Mountain State.

McCall’s skills are highly sought after, and, as an experienced fundraiser, she is often asked to mentor new development officers. She manages a staff that continues to set records, establish innovative programs and educate students and young alumni on the impact of philanthropy.

She was also chosen as one of only 26 women leaders at WVU to participate in the inaugural Women’s Leadership Initiative, a program designed to empower and engage women.

McCall, whose son was born with Down syndrome, has a passion for giving back to a community close to her heart: children with disabilities. “Even though Down syndrome is a part of my life, it doesn’t define me or my child,” she says. “I want every child to have the same opportunities, and I want people to be educated and recognize the harm that comes with ignorance.”

McCall advocates for special needs children through various organizations and initiatives, including Partners for Policymaking, a leadership program through the West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council; the Special Olympics and local and national events for Down syndrome awareness. She and her husband also recently completed PRIDE (Parent Resource for Information, Development and Education) training to become foster/adoptive parents for West Virginia children. “We were very fortunate to have been raised by loving and supportive families,” she says of their PRIDE training, “and we want to provide the same environment to children in need of a home.”

In her down time, McCall enjoys photography, skiing and camping with her family. She loves living and working in her home state and feels connected to the kindred spirit she says is unique to West Virginia.

What is your favorite…?
Color – Purple
Food – Bacon
Cartoon Character – Speed Racer
Ice Cream Flavor – Chocolate peanut butter
Animal – Monkey
Book – “Great Expectations”
App – Facebook
Midnight Snack – Potato chips
TV Show – The “Today” show
Movie – “Love Actually”
Smell – Fresh-cut grass
Sport Team – West Virginia University Mountaineers
Car – Ford
Pet – Pet rock
Place – The beach

Written by Samantha Cart
Photography by Tracy Toler on location at I-79 Technology Park