Gifts at Work

Honoring Jan Clarke’s long career and years of meaningful connection and thoughtful giving

Jan Clarke was just a few years out of college when he got a call from his alma mater, a private Baptist school in southern Virginia, inviting him to interview for their first position dedicated to gift planning.

“I didn’t know much about the field, but I enjoyed working with people who were passionate about philanthropy or open to learning about it,” said Jan, who got his start in fundraising as a student phonathon caller.

Jan Clarke earned a bachelor’s degree from Averett University and worked there and Radford University before spending over two decades in gift planning at the University of Mary Washington.

Assistant Vice President for Gift Planning Jan Clarke was named an administrator emeritus when he retired in June, after serving UMW for over two decades.

That job launched a lifelong career in advancement for Jan, who spent over two decades at the University of Mary Washington as assistant vice president for gift planning, after working at Averett and Radford universities. He often met with alumni and friends across the country, helping them shape their legacies while supporting future generations of UMW students. In recognition of his own lasting impact on Mary Washington, the University named him an administrator emeritus when he retired in June.

“I loved hearing people’s stories – what they studied, how a professor inspired them, the lifelong friends they made, and the careers they had because of Mary Washington,” Jan said, “and helping them connect those memories to a gift that could change a student’s life.”

Among the donors he worked with were Marcy Weatherly Morris ’50 and her late husband, Juney Morris ’50, who met and fell in love at Mary Washington when they were both students; a decorated World War II veteran, Juney attended college on the G.I. Bill. Five generations of their family have attended Mary Washington, starting with Juney’s mother, who graduated in 1919.

“Words cannot express our experience with Jan during his tenure at Mary Washington,” Marcy said. She and Juney, who passed away in 2024, made many generous gifts to support their alma mater over the years, including the Weatherly Wing in Seacobeck Hall, the Morris Stage at Heslep Amphitheatre, student scholarships, and a portrait of UMW’s ninth president, Richard V. Hurley. “Jan became our ‘forever’ friend, and he and Mary Washington have been such an important part of our lives.”

Jan with Marcy Weatherly Morris ’50 at the president’s reception at Brompton during Reunion Weekend in 2024. Jan worked with Marcy and her late husband, Juney Morris ’50, for decades, helping them tell their Mary Washington story and support current and future students through their gifts. With Jan’s help, the Morrises made gifts to name the Weatherly Wing in Seacobeck Hall, the Morris Stage at Heslep Amphitheatre, several scholarships, and a portrait of Richard V. Hurley, UMW’s ninth president.

Jan skiing with Dr. Jerri Barden Perkins ’61 in Sun Valley, Utah. He helped Dr. Perkins, who received a chemistry degree from Mary Washington before earning a medical degree, and went on to conduct trailblazing research on rheumatoid arthritis among other accomplishments, establish six scholarships and fellowships to support UMW students during his years in the Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement.

Longtime colleagues Jan Clarke and Jeremy Vaughn ’08 outside the Cedric Rucker University Center at Reunion Weekend. Jeremy recently became the executive director of gift planning and major gifts, carrying on Jan’s work of helping Mary Washington donors fulfill their wishes while supporting current and future students through their estate gifts.

Jan, who grew up in Charlottesville, earned a bachelor’s degree at Averett University, where he took accounting, marketing, and psychology to help him build the skills needed for his career. But it was the people – donors, students, and colleagues – who made the work fulfilling.

“It takes the entire team to secure a gift,” said Jan, who helped donors support scholarships, faculty excellence, academic programs, campus beautification, and more. “It wasn’t about the size of the gift. It was about what it meant to the donor – and what it would mean to Mary Washington.”

Jan (bottom left) with Professor of English Gary Richards (bottom right) and a group of Mary Washington alumni during an On the Road trip to Ireland in 2024.

Jan on a camel during his travels to Morocco with Mary Washington alumni on a trip through the On the Road program.

Jan (second from left) with Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Student Life Emeritus Cedric Rucker ’81 (right) and other Mary Washington alumni on a UMW On the Road trip to Morocco in 2020, prior to the pandemic.

As a member of UMW’s Heritage Society, Jan’s own gifts contribute to areas that are meaningful to him, like the Fund for Mary Washington and study abroad. An avid traveler, he visited Morocco and Ireland with Mary Washington alumni through UMW’s On the Road program and just returned from a vacation in Portugal.

Besides traveling, Jan now spends his days kayaking, biking, and gardening. Still a proud supporter of UMW, he stays connected to many donors he’s worked with over the years. And he’s glad to see his longtime colleague, Jeremy Vaughn ’08, step into the role as executive director of gift planning and major gifts.

“Jeremy brings such heart to the work,” Jan said. “He’s thoughtful, genuine, and understands how to build real trust with donors. I couldn’t imagine a better person to carry our mission forward.”

For more information about estate planning, contact Jeremy Vaughn at jvaughn@umw.edu or 540-654-2063.

This story originally ran in the fall 2025 Gift Planning Connections Newsletter.

-Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04