Dr. Anthony Heaven is higher education scholar-practitioner who specializes in advancement and diversity/inclusion work. He currently serves as the Associate Director of Development for the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College (SMBHC) at The University of Mississippi.  In addition, he assists with strategizing on diverse donor engagement strategies and is leading an effort to provide a healing and reconciliatory space for African American alums who graduated during the 60s, 70s, & 80s. Previously, Heaven served as the Associate Director of Donor Engagement at The University of Florida. He also done diversity/inclusion and student services work at The University of Texas at Austin.

Heaven completed a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Bachelor of Arts in Religion/Theology at Stillman College. At The University of Texas at Austin, he attained a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership with a concentration in Public Affairs. His dissertation focused on the experiences of African American frontline fundraisers at predominately White institutions. Heaven was a recipient of the Dissertation of the Year Award presented by The American Association of Blacks in Higher Education.