Cullowhee, N.C. (July 10, 2023) – Western Carolina Athletics welcomes home a familiar face around Catamount Country as Kim Cherry-Beck has been named the Director of Development heading the Catamount Club, announced today by WCU Director of Athletics Alex Gary. Cherry-Beck officially starts on August 1.
 
Julie Miller, the previous Director of the Catamount Club, has transitioned into the Associate Athletics Director for Development with a focus on major gifts as it relates to the capital campaign initiatives for Catamount Athletics.
 
A 2001 graduate of Western Carolina University, Cherry-Beck has spent much of her professional career working in higher education. She spent 11 years as an academic advisor in WCU's Advising Center, finishing as the interim Director of Undergraduate Advising in August 2015. She was WCU's head cheerleading coach, guiding a program that she was a part of for four years as an undergraduate in Cullowhee. While leading the cheerleading squad, Cherry-Beck managed the budget and orchestrated fundraising efforts for the team, including raising funds to attend the National Cheerleading Association national competition in Daytona Beach, Fla., annually.
 
"During our search process, Kim repeatedly used the word 'service' when describing how she looks at herself in the position of Director of the Catamount Club," said Gary. "There aren't too many people who love Western Carolina University more than Kim Cherry-Beck and I am beyond excited that she is returning to serve her university in this role!"
 
As the Director of Development, Cherry-Beck will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Catamount Club, the fundraising arm of Western Carolina Athletics. Supervising a team of development officers, she is responsible for developing and implementing strategies for annual giving that include identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewardship of new lead annual fund donors and prospects. She and her staff will remain focused on renewing current Catamount Club donors, acquiring new donors, and donor stewardship and engagement events including functions such as the Catamount Club Golf Tour and PurpleZone tailgates and receptions. She will also serve as the Catamount Club Board of Directors liaison.
 
Cherry-Beck returned to western North Carolina in the summer of 2022 when her husband, Alan Beck, was named WCU's head baseball coach. She spent the previous six years in Statesboro, Ga., working as an academic advisor at Georgia Southern University where Beck was an assistant under former WCU player and coach Rodney Hennon.
 
"I am excited to return to Western Carolina as the Director of the Catamount Club," said Cherry-Beck. "I cherish my time on campus as a student, a cheerleader, and former head cheer coach, and look forward to reconnecting with alumni and the community in my new role. I can't wait to see everyone back home in Cullowhee soon. Go Cats!"
 
Originally from Denver, N.C., Cherry-Beck received her degree in physical education with a disciplinary focus on sociology from WCU in 2001. She earned her Master of Counselor Education from Clemson in May 2004, working with Clemson's Student-Athlete Enrichment Programs and as a graduate assistant in the Michelin® Career Center.
 
Married in August 2008, Cherry-Beck, and her husband Alan – a 2004 graduate of Western Carolina and former All-Southern Conference baseball player – have two sons, Easton and Eli.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount Athletics and the Catamount Club through our social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports; fb.com/CatamountClubWCUAthletics), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@Catamounts; @_catamountclub). Join the Catamount Club by calling (828) 227-2013 or by email at catamountclub@email.wcu.edu.