Shane Fernando Named Vice President of Advancement and the Arts at CFCC
WILMINGTON, NC – Cape Fear Community College is pleased to announce the appointment of Shane Fernando as Vice President of Advancement and the Arts at Cape Fear Community College. The announcement was made at the College’s Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, June 18, 2020.
On June 1, 2020, Fernando was named Interim Vice President of Advancement and the Arts following his six years of leadership at CFCC’s Wilson Center.
As Vice President of Advancement and the Arts, Fernando will serve as artistic director of the Wilson Center and oversee donor relations and direct fundraising for the College at large through the CFCC Foundation.
“We are extremely proud of all Shane and his team have accomplished at the Wilson Center,” said Jim Morton, CFCC President. “He cares deeply about our community and his passion for providing access to the arts for all has resulted in numerous successful fundraising initiatives.”
Fernando created CFCC’s Broadway for a Better World Program, a collaboration with the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County. In the program’s first two years, over $110,000 in tickets were distributed to the region’s not-for-profits and CFCC students. Fernando is also an experienced and successful grant writer.
“Shane brings great enthusiasm and energy to his work. His dedication has enriched our entire community. We are excited to see what he will achieve in this role, and are certain that his hard work and leadership will benefit our students for years to come,” said Morton.
“I am thrilled to take on this new leadership role with the Cape Fear Community College Foundation,” said Fernando. “At the Wilson Center, a major focus of our work has been supporting and developing opportunities to engage students during their experience at CFCC through education, employment, service, and advocacy. In my new role, I will work with our team to connect students with scholarship opportunities that will help them focus on their studies and increase their opportunities for lifelong success – without the burden of overwhelming student debt. I’m excited to explore ways area residents can become more involved at CFCC and help our students achieve their academic and career goals.”
Fernando actively serves in many community and national roles for the arts, which include fundraising and development oversight. Locally, Fernando serves as a trustee for the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts where during his term as President of the board of trustees, the Hall established its Endowment and Planned Giving programs. He also served as an active member of the 2010 Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts Capital Committee, which raised over $4 million dollars in support of the Hall’s renovation/restoration.
At the state level, Fernando serves as President of the North Carolina Presenters Consortium – supporting its annual sponsorships and development, and is currently serving on the Governor’s COVID-19 task force for planning the re-opening of North Carolina performing arts venues.
Nationally, Fernando serves as a trustee for DanceUSA (the nation’s advocacy organization for the American dance industry), where he chairs the organization’s development committee. He is also a cohort member of the South Arts Dance Touring Initiative, advocating for the dance genre across the American South.
Fernando earned a communication studies degree and a master’s degree in public administration from UNC Wilmington. He conceived and spearheaded the fundraising for the UNCW Millennium Clock Tower as senior class president in 2000, a $150,000 project. Today, Fernando serves on the advisory committee for the Master of Public Administration program at UNC Wilmington.
The Cape Fear Community College Foundation supports the mission of the College and its students, faculty, staff, programs, scholarships, and specific capital projects. The Foundation secures and manages the CFCC endowment, gifts, and grants consistent with donor intent; these include but are not limited to, cash contributions, planned or estate gifts, securities, donated services, equipment, and supplies for educational purposes. To learn more about Cape Fear Community College’s Foundation, visit cfcc.edu/foundation . Donations may be made online at cfcc.edu/give .
