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—Aamir Walton joins the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music as our Senior Director of Advancement.

Walton most recently served as Director of Development at the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, where he was charged with launching a new regional portfolio during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting with zero prospects, he quickly became one of the Center’s top performers—ranking among the top eight in face-to-face contacts and top three in dollars closed. Since 2020, he has secured more than $6 million in gifts, increasing both major gift asks and closed gifts in the region by 50% annually.

Prior to his role at Iowa, Walton served as 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 renamed 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 strengthen its identity, raise its visibility, and expand its network of support.

Throughout his career, Walton has described himself as a generalist—building relationships across entire regions rather than within a single academic unit. Drawn to the college’s clear mission and purpose, he now seeks to make a focused and lasting impact in this next chapter of his professional journey.