HPU staff spotlight: Planned Giving Officer Dr. Don Scarborough
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By Ann Shelley// Opinion Editor
High Point University strives to have faculty and staff members that deliver an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people. Both inside and outside of the classroom, these individuals are here to help students. Students couldn’t complete four years of college without their help and mentorship. Dr. Don Scarborough, HPU’s Planned Giving Officer, is just one of the many staff that HPU students interact with.
Scarborough is originally from Asheville, North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville and received a bachelor’s degree in Art and Psychology, then later attended Western Carolina University and received a Master of Arts in Education. Finally, Scarborough earned his Doctorate in Education from Vanderbilt University.
Scarborough has worked at HPU for 16 years now. His time at HPU has been in various roles such as being vice president for administration, vice president for institutional advancement, vice president for community relations, vice president for special projects and now the planned giving officer.
“It is definitely a full-time job,” Scarborough said. However, he expresses it as being very rewarding. Scarborough is involved in the HPU community in many ways. Scarborough noted loving his job and appreciates “being around the wonderful students, faculty and staff.”
HPU hosts so many events throughout the year to bring the student body and faculty together in a innovative ways. Scarborough’s favorite events are any of “the athletics and the wonderful things that our students do in them.”
Scarborough was previously a soccer coach, so he has an appreciation for the athletic department. He is a big fan of HPU and his favorite memories so far have been “the explosive expansion of the university and the various people here.”
Through all of his various roles in HPU’s community, Scarborough has gotten to know the student body very well. He appreciates all the students and is looking forward to getting to know the Class of 2020. His favorite part of working with the HPU students is “getting to know them and listening to their dreams and goals.”
Scarborough’s advice for incoming freshmen is to “pay attention to where you are and what you need to do. Work first and play last. You may only get one try to make it a good one.”