Middle Georgia State College’s Office of Institutional Advancement is expanding the scope of alumni relations and fundraising with key hires.

Julie Davis and Natalie Rischbieter began work on January 5 for the development and alumni affairs department of Institutional Advancement. Davis is executive director of major & planned giving. Rischbieter is director of alumni relations.

Davis will focus on increasing the amount of planned giving and major gifts to the Middle Georgia State College Foundation. Rischbieter’s top priority is to establish a strong alumni association that will reach out to and serve all graduates, including those of the former Middle Georgia College and Macon State College, which consolidated in 2013 to become Middle Georgia State College.

Raymond Carnley, vice president for university advancement and executive director of the Middle Georgia State College Foundation, said both positions are crucial to Middle Georgia State as it moves toward university status.

“Adding these individuals to our team brings us a high level of expertise in areas of great need,” he said. “Increasing planned giving will be critical to our success when we conduct the types of capital campaigns needed to support a university. We’ll be able to provide alumni the opportunity to network and expand their careers after graduation.”

Davis, who lives in Warner Robins with her family, most recently was executive director of InvestED in Seattle. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Auburn University and has extensive training in professional fundraising.

Rischbieter, who lives in Barnesville with her family, most recently was alumni affairs and annual fund administrator at Gordon State College. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social services from Troy University.

In another hire, Tyler Horne of Macon has joined Institutional Advancement’s Marketing and Communications office as digital media specialist. Horne creates videos and graphics for advertising and recruitment purposes. He graduated from Middle Georgia State in December with a degree in new media and communication.