EIU welcomes Burnsmier, Fisher to new development roles
Aug-03-2023
Scott Burnsmier Gary Fisher
(Charleston, IL) – Eastern Illinois University welcomes Scott Burnsmier and Gary Fisher as the University’s newest additions to its Advancement team as Directors of Development.
“Gary and Scott are ambitious leaders and confident fundraisers who share our vision of a dynamic and thriving EIU,” said Amber May, Director of Alumni Services and Special Events. “We look forward to their contributions to Eastern Illinois University, their commitments to our students’ success, and the positive impact they’ll ultimately bring to our communities and across our East Central Illinois region.”
Burnsmier shared that he is excited to be back at EIU after earning a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from the University in 2000, and to help alumni engage—specifically in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He especially looks forward to working with prospective and first-generation students, because he was a first-generation college student himself. Prior to joining EIU’s Advancement team, Burnsmier served as a relationship manager/consultant and agent for a handful of insurance agencies and nonprofits, including the American Cancer Society and March of Dimes. He has been married to his wife Sandy for 26 years and has two children and a daughter-in-law. His son Ian is a Supervisor for UICS and resides in San Antonio, Texas with his wife Natalie. His daughter Grace is a college student who is pursuing nursing at Parkland College in Champaign. In his spare time, Burnsmier coaches high school cross country and volunteers as a mentor for various organizations, athletes and military personnel. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Alzheimer’s Association and serves as the Chairperson for the Champaign- Urbana Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Additionally, this fall he will run the Chicago Marathon for the Alzheimer’s Association Alz-Stars. His commitment to service, he says, is spiritually based, and he points to Mark 10:45 as a guidepost for his approach to his career and life.
Fisher earned two degrees from EIU in Graphic Communications/Marketing (B.A. 1986) and Technology Education (M.S. 1987), before taking the opportunity to return to his alma mater decades later in a professional capacity. He is a senior management professional with more than 30 years of career experience across marketing, sales, software and product delivery and development, primarily in agriculture and print production. His work in that time focused largely on establishing and maintaining critical relationship networks that fueled growth and progress for all involved organizations. Fisher said he had always wanted to get involved with EIU, and looks forward to the opportunity to help Eastern Illinois University grow and prosper as a way to give back to the University that had such an impact on his professional and personal life. He currently lives in Shelbyville, Illinois with his wife, son and two pets—a miniature schnauzer and a tabby cat—and also has a daughter who attended EIU (2014-2018). Together they enjoy boating, fishing, attending sporting events, visiting regional wineries and microbreweries, and hosting guests at home.
The EIU Foundation encourages and provides private support to Eastern Illinois University, including the region which the University serves, and promotes the ideals of volunteerism and philanthropy among alumni, friends, and employees of the University. To assist and support Eastern Illinois University's educational and cultural mission through philanthropic gifts of cash, property and other materials of educational and artistic value, or to learn more about the EIU Foundation, visit eiu.edu/found.
EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, or any of EIU’s other community-based services and opportunities, visit eiu.edu or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.
