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.
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.
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.
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.
