Meet Your
Spalding Advancement Staff
Chief Advancement Officer
Michael Buckman
Michael joined the Advancement team in August 2023 as Chief Advancement Officer. He has 17 years of experience in fundraising and previously served as the Director of Major Gifts at the Family Scholar House. Michael is a 1996 graduate of St. Xavier High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Murray State and a master's degree in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Michael is currently pursuing a doctorate at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Michael is a 2017 graduate of Ignite Louisville. He is a member of Louisville Rotary and Louisville Forum. He also serves as a board member at Louisville Classical Academy.
Manager of Advancement Services & Data SupportDavid Clark
David Clark joined the Spalding University Office of Advancement as Manager, Advancement Services and Data Support in 2014. He is a graduate of Centre College (BA, Dramatic Arts and English) and Southern Illinois University Carbondale (MFA, Playwriting) and has previously worked for the advancement and fundraising departments at Rhodes College and Actors Theatre of Louisville. He is a Certified Fund Raising Executive.
He is the co-founder and co-director of Derby City Playwrights, a Louisville group devoted to developing local writers and the father of three adorable, destructive children.
Favorite place on SU campus: The small, strange stairway, with an inaccessible chair that my son is convinced is a secret passage way to the vending machines.
director, office of sponsored programs and research
Dr. Steve Katsikas
Dr. Steve Katsikas is a professor in the School of Professional Psychology and has been instrumental in Spalding University's efforts to secure grants that support student education and training. He has developed his working knowledge of grants administration through the writing and running of four federal grants awarded to Spalding over the past 10 years (7.5 million dollars). Many other departments, faculty, and staff at Spalding have been successful in securing external contracts, grants, and resources, necessitating the development of a new Office of Sponsored Programs and Research (OSPRe). Dr. Katsikas is thrilled to be working with the Advancement team to continue to build supports for students and faculty.
Favorite place on SU campus: The first floor of Mansion, where I enjoy playing the piano when no one is around.