By Gerard Flanagan, news writer/photographer/social media, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. –Benji Kelly, vice president for development at Campbellsville University, has received his Doctor of Business Administration in Leadership.
Kelly received his doctorate recently from Liberty University.
“This has been something that I had been thinking about for a few years,” Kelly said. “The timing was right for me to start when I did in 2018.”
Kelly has served as Campbellsville University’s vice president for development since July 2007. Kelly said juggling his many responsibilities was a challenge as he pursued his doctorate.
“Time management was very important for me,” he said. “Managing every hour of every day was difficult when trying to do my job responsibilities, church, family and doctoral studies.”
As part of his degree, Kelly completed an Applied Doctoral Research Project on how leadership impacts young alumni giving at private institutions in Kentucky.
While completing his doctoral project, Kelly said he learned the importance of connecting with students before they graduate.
“To impact young alumni giving, it has to begin while the student is currently enrolled,” Kelly said. “Don’t wait until they graduate to start engaging them in terms of seeking support.”
Kelly has been employed at Campbellsville University since November 1999. Before becoming vice president for development, Kelly served in the following roles: admission counselor, assistant director of admissions, director of alumni relations and director of planned giving.
Kelly graduated from Campbellsville University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in communication. He received a Master of Business Administration from Campbellsville University in 2005.
He is the son of Joetta Kelly and the late Jim Kelly and the late Penny Kelly. He is married to Kellie Kelly, a three-time graduate of Campbellsville University, and they have one daughter, Katelyn, a sophomore at Taylor County High School.
Kellie graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a teacher certification in 2000, a Master of Arts in education in 2004 and a Master of Arts in School Improvement in 2017.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 12,000 students offering over 100 programs of study including Ph.D., master, baccalaureate, associate, pre-professional and certification programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.