Cullowhee, N.C. – Julie Miller has been named Associate Athletics Director for Advancement and the Director of the Catamount Club by Western Carolina Athletics Director Alex Gary, it was announced today. Miller, who was a part of the Catamount Club staff for five years from 2010 through 2015, returns to WCU after spending the past six and a half years working in athletics fundraising at Arizona State University in Tempe.
 
Miller, who will also serve as the sports administrator for both the WCU's men's and women's golf programs, officially starts in Cullowhee on Wednesday, Aug. 25.
 
"We cannot be happier to welcome Julie back to Cullowhee to lead our development team," said Gary on the addition of Miller to lead the Catamount Club. "Julie left a great impression on our alumni and friends during her previous stint with Catamount Athletics, and we feel fortunate she chose to come back to serve in this leadership position."
 
Miller assumes the lead role within the Catamount Club after having spent the past four and a half years as the Senior Director of Major Gifts and Engagement with the Sun Devil Club. Within her role at Arizona State, she has been an integral part of Campaign ASU 2020, a successful university-wide campaign in which Sun Devil Athletics played a leading role. The results included facility support for Sun Devil Stadium, The Thunderbirds Golf Complex, and the Arenas Campaign, while also affording families an opportunity to establish endowments.
 
As the Senior Director of Major Gifts and Engagement, Miller helped revitalize the sport-specific fundraising efforts for the ASU men's basketball, women's triathlon, men's and women's golf programs. She was also selected to help lead and develop a comprehensive strategic plan for the department. Her duties at Arizona State also included sport supervision for the Sun Devil women's golf program.
 
"This is an exciting opportunity! I am honored and humbled to return to Cullowhee and serve in this leadership role," said Miller. "I would like to thank Alex Gary and the entire search committee for their trust and confidence in me. Western Carolina University has an incredibly strong foundation built on personal connections and relationships with alumni and fans. I am eager to work with our coaches, staff, student-athletes, and Catamount Nation, and to continue building meaningful relationships as we embark on this next chapter of success."
 
Originally from Jeannette, Pa., Miller earned her start in collegiate athletics as an athletics development intern at Western Carolina in August 2010. A year later, she worked her way into a full-time position as an assistant director within the Catamount Club and ultimately rose to the associate director title in 2013.  She helped orchestrate and key many donor stewardship events including the Catamount Golf Tour, Coach's Caravans and Holiday Socials, and the Student-Athlete Scholarship Gala.
 
Miller earned a bachelor of arts degree in communication in 2009 from the USC Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C., where she was a member of the women's golf team.
 
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