2024 Most Influential Women: Wendy Ferguson

Slowing down is not in Wendy Ferguson’s nature. Perseverance, even while balancing different parts of life, is a part of what defines her.

For 22 years, Ferguson has worked for the Missouri State University Foundation, starting as director of donor relations, and currently serving as assistant vice president for development and strategy.

“With each position, I have made efforts to visibly hold myself accountable to the duties of my position, model professional behavior and demonstrate a strong work ethic in my role as a supervisor and leader of a team of development professionals, while simultaneously moving the needle forward with the overall fundraising responsibilities and success of Missouri State University, for which I am tasked,” she says.

Through restructuring and the defining of new roles at the foundation that began in 2022, Ferguson says she is proud to have been able to help lead the team that hit record breaking fundraising in fiscal year 2024, with almost $36 million in funds, up from $16.7 million when she started leading the development division in 2013.

“The upward trajectory of private gift support will provide financial support to students, programs, capital projects, faculty and staff now and in the years to come,” she says.

In the last 18 months, she’s helped lead two new programs at the MSU Foundation, Bears WIN, a women impact network, and an Associates Trustees cohort, to accompany the Foundation Board of Trustees.

Bears WIN aims to raise funds for mental wellness for students at MSU, a degree assistance fund for those who might need extra financial support to complete their degree and help support the neurodiversity needs of students.

She says helping mentor others who are just beginning their career is a passion of hers.

“There are several women in leadership positions who mentored me in my early career, and I often think back to words of wisdom they shared with me,” Ferguson says. “I actually use some of their words in my interactions now, and it always makes me pause and smile.”

Ferguson says she sets high standards for herself and won’t ask anyone to do something that she’s not willing to do herself.

“If I can be the kind of person, the kind of leader, that I want to work with and work for, then I think that sets me apart from a lot of people in the business world today,” she says.

“I have always been extremely self-aware and extremely conscientious of the work I do and the performance that I give to any task,” Ferguson says. “I’m very competitive, and I’m always very concerned about the effort and quality given to my work.”