Education

B.S., Marketing Communications, Clemson University

Background

Sallie Thomas joined the development team at the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management in September 2024 as the assistant director of development. A native of Columbia, S.C., her passion lies in building relationships, supporting community and aligning resources with opportunities. Thomas brings a diverse background in higher education, marketing, finance, human resources and fundraising as she plays a key part in managing and overseeing development efforts, with a focus on annual gift fundraising.

Before joining HRSM, Thomas served as the director of alumni and annual giving at Midlands Technical College where she was instrumental in crafting strategies and implementing outreach programs to engage both current students and alumni. Her career also includes 10 years as an employment recruiter and training and development coordinator, during which she was recognized for her innovative approaches to recruitment, onboarding and employee retention.

When not in the office, Thomas enjoys traveling, event planning, networking and spending quality time with her family. She and her husband, Brett, have two children, Grady and Tolly.