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Phil Neslund

Phil Neslund

Director of Major Gifts
Responsibilities: In his role, Phil works closely with the Associate AD for Major Gifts to design and implement donor-centric strategies in support of Athletics and university priorities.  He will be working with donors from the Northern Virginia and the greater DMV-area to cultivate and solicit philanthropic gifts for student-athlete scholarships, capital projects, and endowments.  He is also the fundraising liaison for all baseball and track & Field initiatives.
 
Joined VT Athletics Staff: Phil is entering his first year as a member of the Hokie Club in the fall of 2023.
 
Prior to Virginia Tech:  Phil treks back east to Blacksburg from California, where he was promoted through multiple Major Gifts roles throughout his near 4-year tenure at Fresno State.  He most recently served as the Director of Development for Major Gifts with the Bulldogs, where he closed major gifts for the newly debuted “Meyers Champions Circle” philanthropic giving society.  Prior to his time at Fresno State, Phil cut his teeth outside of athletic development at Cowan Systems, LLC, a trucking company based in Baltimore, where he held roles in sales and recruiting over his 5+ year stint at his first company. 
 
Education: Phil is a proud 2014 graduate from the University of Delaware and currently holds his Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing with a minor in Spanish. During his undergraduate years in Newark, Phil also worked in Athletic Ticketing & Group Sales for the UD Athletic Ticket Office.

Personal:  A native of Lititz, PA, Phil currently resides in Christiansburg with his girlfriend, Megan.