#NAADD25th: In honor of NAADD's 25 years of commitment to the development of collegiate athletics, NAADD will be featuring the full testimonials of Past Presidents throughout 2018.
 
Here is the full testimonial from Jim Senter, NAADD President for 2013-14 and current director of athletics at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

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A 1985 graduate of the University of Tulsa, Senter received his master's degree from the University of Idaho in 1992 while also serving as an assistant football coach for the Vandals. After an eight-year coaching stint, Senter transitioned into the administration. While at the University of Idaho, he served as assistant and associate athletics director of development until 2003. He was responsible for the university's Capital Campaign for Athletics, helping raise money for a $13 million athletics facility expansion. He also ran the annual fund for Vandal athletics, overseeing the work of 48 national directors.
 
Senter then traveled to the southeastern part of the Gem State to become the director of athletics at Idaho State University. While in charge for the Bengals, Senter engineered a 19 percent increase in football attendance and a $600,000 leap in advertising, marketing and corporate sales in just two years. He then served an even shorter stint at San Diego State University as the associate athletics director for development/senior associate AD for external sales where he was responsible for overseeing the athletics department's development efforts, including major gifts. Following his time with the Aztecs, Senter went on to work in the University of Colorado's athletics department. During his tenure with the Buffaloes, he worked his way up to senior associate athletics director for external operations overseeing numerous sports teams, as well as serving as supervisor over the chief marketing officer and numerous other areas within the department.
 
His last stop before arriving in El Paso, saw Senter regaining the AD title when he joined The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, from 2014-17. Due to The Citadel's budget being over 45% self-generated revenue - which was the highest in the Southern Conference - Senter's fundraising efforts resulted in significant improvements being made to the football, basketball and baseball facilities. Throughout his three years with the Bulldogs, he grew the scholarship endowment by almost $6 million. Senter helped set school fundraising records. Through fundraising, Senter grew football attendance by more than 3,000 spectators per game, and The Citadel led the Southern Conference in attendance.
 
In November 2017, Senter was appointed UTEP's Director of Athletics. Almost one year on the job, he has hired new football, men's basketball, and rifle coaches. In order to engage Miner supporters, he has organized a series of Town Hall meetings in El Paso and has established the first-ever Fan Council for the university. His next big task is the future of Sun Bowl Stadium, where he has plans to make changes over the next two years.
 
Although Senter is five years removed from his NAADD Presidency, he continues to support the growth and development of his colleagues by demonstrating his dedication to not only NAADD, but to the college athletics industry as a whole.

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Here's what Jim had to say about NAADD:
Why should someone become a NAADD member?
Being connected to other professionals is a sure path to professional growth and success.  NAADD membership gives everyone a path forward for learning, connection and networking.  All three are critical for sustained success.
 
What has NAADD meant to you?
If I could take a vacation or go to the convention, I would go to the convention.  I am energized by being around other high achieving development professionals and challenged to be a better version of myself, the NAADD community does that to for me.
 
What impact did your time as NAADD President have on you as a professional?
It was a reminder of how many outstanding and caring people there are in our profession.  Development folks care about other people and are not afraid to invest in each other's growth both personally and professionally.
 
What is your fondest memory of serving as NAADD President?
My fondest memories embody more that being the President.  For me it was being on the Executive Committee and seeing how the Diversity Initiative Scholarship started to pay dividends with some of the early attendees now serving on the Executive Committee and leading their own development shops.  We have come a long way in our profession with more ground to cover. 
 
How do you see NAADD progressing in the next five years? Next ten years?
I think NAADD will continue to grow in both racial and gender diversity.  I believe that development professionals will have an increased importance to intercollegiate athletics departments because of the constant demand to generate revenue.  Development efforts has no ceiling and no constraints.
 
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Check @NAADDevelopment next week as #NAADD25th Past President Testimonials continue with 1998-99 President, Carol Oakland, former director of athletics development at Augustana University.

Stay up-to-date on the 25th Anniversary celebration and all things NAADD related by following @NAADDevelopment on Twitter by using the hashtag #NAADD25th and #PastPresidentTestimonial.

About NAADD: NAADD is the first organization of its kind to provide educational and networking opportunities, enhancement of acceptable operating standards and ethics, and establishment of the overall prestige and understanding of the profession of athletics development and fund raising. For more information about NAADD, please visit www.naadd.com. NAADD is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 54th year. For more information on NACDA and the 17 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.