While the trip from West End Avenue to Wedgewood Avenue is a short one, Dr. Perry Moulds is excited about his new journey at Belmont.
Trading in his Vanderbilt University Commodore cap to become a Bruin, Mould is now a part of the Belmont family as the vice president for the Office of Development and External Relations. As Dr. Bo Thomas steps down in October, Moulds has spent the past two months working to fill this position.
“I haven’t had time to develop much of a routine at this point. I spend most of my time talking with people, both inside and outside of Belmont. Most of my meetings at the moment are introductory, and everyone has been incredibly welcoming,” said Moulds.
Senior University Events Coordinator Darcy North acts as a member of the Office of Development and External Relation and is already impressed by Moulds’ dedication to his new role.
“He has actively sought out the departments’ input on a variety of levels which evidences his desire to be a team player,” she said. “I’m thrilled to have him leading our team.”
As the vice president of the recently formed Office of Development and External Relations, Moulds has been working with the departments of development, alumni relations, marketing and public relations, advancement services and communications.
“The strength of this organizational structure is that it brings the majority of staff who communicate externally on behalf of Belmont University under one umbrella,” he said. “It also provides more opportunities for internal communication and interaction between the Belmont community.”
Being a part of the Nashville community for six years and seeing the changes and growth on Belmont’s campus, Moulds felt it was the right time to make the move.
“When the vice president for development and external relations position came open, I did not hesitate to apply. It is personally important to me that I work for an institution that values excellence and that strives to be the best it can be every day. Those qualities are part of Belmont’s DNA,” said Moulds.
Moulds has been very busy in his new position, focusing on fundraising, alumni and volunteer connectivity, gift processing, data management, marketing, communication and media relations.
“My plan for this year is to do everything I can to help our staff achieve the goals they have set. This is such an exciting time to be joining the university as we move forward in the Vision 2020 planning process. That strategic vision will help guide our priorities over the next five years,” said Moulds.
This is Moulds’ 15th year in an institutional environment. Prior to working at Belmont, he held several positions at Vanderbilt, including the Vanderbilt-Ingram senior development director. He also worked at the University of Mississippi, where he received his bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. While Moulds says others may argue, he believes he has the best job on campus and is grateful for Belmont’s inviting welcome.
“My favorite thing about Belmont is undoubtedly the people. I am thankful for the warm reception I have received since my arrival and I consider myself very fortunate to be a part of this dynamic community,” said Moulds. “All of the departments under the banner of development and external relations are comprised of wonderfully talented staff and leaders.”
Moulds has been married to his wife, Kimberly, for eight years and they have one daughter, Kinsley. Their dog, Zoe, joined the family late last year.
As Thomas prepares to leave next month, he has met with Moulds during this transition period.
“He is a great choice for Belmont and has a heart for people and making a difference. My advice to him has been to ‘be himself’ and leverage his talents with the strengths of his team, Dr. Fisher, the senior leaders, trustees, deans, faculty, staff, and our wonderful alumni. He will be successful,” said Thomas.
Moulds is looking forward to playing his part in bettering the Belmont community.
“I believe this is the most exciting time in our university’s history. We are enjoying tremendous growth and are fortunate to have a vibrant campus community,” he said. “It is rewarding to help connect people more deeply with Belmont.”
This article was written by Andie Rice and Emily Swan.