Aamir Walton named Senior Director of Advancement at the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music
The University of Tennessee’s Natalie L. Haslam College of Music has named Aamir Walton as its next senior director of advancement. With more than a decade of fundraising experience in higher education and the nonprofit sector – and a track record of securing millions of dollars in philanthropic support – Walton is poised to build upon and elevate the college’s growing advancement efforts.
Walton most recently served as director of development for the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, where he was tasked with launching a new regional portfolio during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting from zero prospects, he quickly rose to become one of the Center’s top performers – ranking in the top eight for face-to-face contacts and top three in dollars closed. Since 2020, Walton has closed more than $6 million in gifts, increasing both major gift asks and gifts closed in the region by 50% annually.
Before his role at Iowa, Walton was an advancement officer at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, supporting the Colleges of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Education. There, he increased regional solicitations by 150% over three years and helped secure multiple principal gifts of $1 million or more.
Walton’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for the college, which was named in 2024 in honor of one of the university’s most generous benefactors, Natalie L. Haslam. His hiring marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as the college continues to build its identity, visibility, and network of support.
“I am thrilled that Aamir is joining us as the college’s next senior director of advancement. He’s an incredibly dynamic fundraiser and has proven strong leadership in higher education development efforts,” said Jeffrey Pappas, founding dean of the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music. “We already have a strong base of support and advocates for the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music, and I look forward to working with Aamir to expand and deepen those relationships.”
Throughout his career, Walton has served as a self-described generalist, building relationships across entire regions rather than within a single academic unit. Seeking a more focused and mission-driven role, he was drawn to the college’s vision and purpose.
“I really felt called to this position,” Walton said. “Not only was it an exciting opportunity to join a new College of Music, but the musical community and cultural opportunities in Knoxville spoke to me and my family. I was raised around music in my church, and my wife and I are now at a point where we want to immerse our young children in the arts. The mission of the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music is deeply personal to me, and I’m excited to contribute to its continued success.”
Walton will officially begin his role on May 1. The Natalie L. Haslam College of Music looks forward to welcoming Walton to Rocky Top and partnering with him in furthering its mission to inspire and educate through music.