JONESBORO, Ark. (10/4/24) – Arkansas State Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Jeff Purinton announced Friday that Kellen Blanchett has been named the Red Wolves' Assistant Athletics Director for Major Gifts and Development.
Blanchett returns to Jonesboro after spending the last two years at the University of Tennessee as Assistant Director of Development/Major Gifts. In addition to his role overseeing major gifts, the Forrest City native will also oversee the Lettermen's Club.
"We're excited to welcome one of our own back to Jonesboro," Purinton said. "Kellen is an excellent communicator with strong leadership skills who has done great things since graduating from A-State, most recently at Tennessee. He will do a fantastic job working with our donors, fans and letterwinners as an alum and letterman himself, and we are glad to have him join our team to work with the Red Wolves Foundation."
The A-State alumnus worked as a development assistant in 2019-20 and was also a student-athlete for the Red Wolves from 2015-18, playing defensive back on the football team and as a sprinter on the track and field team. He was a part of three Sun Belt Conference championship teams – twice as a sprinter in 2017 and 2018.
"We are excited to welcome Kellen, his fiancée Imani, and their son Kaz back to Jonesboro to join our Red Wolves Foundation team," A-State Deputy AD for Development and Revenue Generation Brandon Cunningham said. "He has done great things working in development and as an A-State alum and letterwinner, I have no doubt he will fit right in with our donors and fans. I'm thrilled to have him on board as we continue our fundraising efforts for various capital projects and growing our Scarlet Society membership."
In his two years in Knoxville, Blanchett managed a portfolio of over 150 major gifts totaling over $1 million in donations. He was a part of a staff that set records in both annual and monthly gift donations and worked with coaches and athletics staff in coordinating fundraising efforts.
Prior to his stint at Tennessee, Blanchett spent just over a year as a development assistant for IMG Learfield at TCU.
"I would like to start by thanking Jeff Purinton, Brandon Cunningham and everyone involved for giving me the opportunity to return home and serve our student-athletes, coaches, and supporters," Blanchett said. "As a former student-athlete at A-State, it feels great to be back at the university that gave me an opportunity. My family and I look forward to getting back to Jonesboro."
After his year in the Red Wolves Foundation, Blanchett spent one year at Forrest City High School, where he was an assistant coach and director of intramurals.
Blanchett graduated from A-State in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science. His father, Denishio Blanchett, was a four-year football letterman (1995-2000) and in 1999, was an ASU "Warrior" inductee.
