Stratford Academy is pleased to announce that Cale Padgett has been named Head of Advancement for Stratford Academy in Macon, Georgia. He officially began his role in January, following our return from the holiday break.

Cale brings more than seven years of advancement leadership experience across higher education and nonprofit organizations. Most recently, he served as Director of Development at Kennesaw State University, where he managed a portfolio of 100 donors, grew the College of Architecture and Construction Management’s endowment by 33% and doubled faculty and staff giving rates in his first year, and increased Giving Day support from $1,700 to $44,000.

Prior to Kennesaw State, Cale was Lead Director of Gift Planning at Emory University, where he exceeded fundraising goals by more than 125% and built training programs to strengthen advancement efforts across the university. He also held senior roles at the Kansas State University Foundation, cultivating and stewarding donor relationships and earning recognition as a top-performing fundraiser nationally.

In addition to his professional work, Cale is deeply engaged in community leadership. He serves on the Board of Trustees at Piedmont College, where he is President of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Under his leadership, alumni giving participation reached 100%, and he helped establish the Alumni Promise Scholarship, which has grown to over $50,000 in support for students with financial need. He also contributes to the Adairsville High School Magnet Parent Foundation, supporting fundraising events and student opportunities.

Cale holds a Juris Doctor and MBA from the University of Oklahoma, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Piedmont College. His combination of legal, business, and communications expertise, paired with his proven success in advancement, will be invaluable as Stratford strengthens its mission and community partnerships.

Cale and his wife, Lauren, are the proud parents of Silas, an 11th grader who also joined the Stratford community in January, and Gus, who will join our Preschool in August.

Please join us in welcoming Cale Padgett and his family to Stratford Academy. We look forward to the vision, energy, and expertise he will bring to our advancement efforts.