Advancing the Mission of St. Mark’s

After lengthy national searches, St. Mark’s has announced the appointment of two accomplished Development professionals to leadership positions that are important to the School’s future. Both administrative searches, led by the consulting firm RG175, generated a wide array of highly experienced candidates who were carefully vetted over many months.  

Beginning in July, Scott Jolly will assume the role of Assistant Headmaster for External Affairs, an administrative position that will focus on advancing the School’s mission through external relations and strategic leadership. A 21-year veteran on the St. Mark’s faculty, Scott has served in a number of successively expansive roles on the School's Advancement team, including Director of Alumni Relations, Senior Director of Leadership Gifts, and most recently, Interim Director of Development. He has played an integral role in the completion of three campaigns over the past two decades that have garnered more than $200 million for the School and provided funds that have supported many new facilities, endowed teaching positions, scholarships, program expansion, and current operating support. 

Additionally, Scott has been a champion of alumni engagement alongside the St. Mark’s Alumni Association, which has been recognized nationally as one of the few independent schools to consistently exceed 50% alumni participation. Scott's dedication to building relationships in the alumni community is evidenced by the fact that he is the only St. Mark’s employee to be named as an honorary alumnus (by the Class of 1967). On campus, Scott served as Head Coach of the varsity basketball team from 2000-2006. Scott and his wife Karlene are the proud parents of three children, including St. Mark’s graduate Zach Jolly ’10. In this new role, Scott will guide all Advancement programs, including Development, Alumni Relations, and Communications, and work closely with the Enrollment Management and Financial Operations teams. 

In addition, St. Mark’s is excited to welcome Tim Crouch as the next Director of Development. Tim comes to Dallas from Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, where he has served for more than a decade in a variety of roles, including Director of Regional Engagement, Associate Director of Capital Giving, Associate Director of Summer and Extended Programs, and Head Boys’ Varsity Basketball Coach. Tim comes to St. Mark’s with exceptional Development experience and an educator’s heart. During his tenure on the Advancement staff at Mercersburg, the School completed one of the most successful campaigns ever for an independent school, raising more than $300 million and securing an individual gift of $100 million from one of their alumnae. 

As Director of Development, Tim will directly manage the School’s fundraising efforts, working in close partnership with Scott Jolly and other members of the St. Mark’s team. Tim graduated Cum Laude from Dickinson College, where he was a distinguished student-athlete on the varsity basketball team. He later earned an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland School of Business. This summer, Tim will be relocating to Dallas with his wife Anna (the Director of Admission at Mercersburg), and their sons George and Henry. 

“We are incredibly excited about the leadership of our Advancement team going forward,” said David W. Dini, Eugene McDermott Headmaster. “Scott’s dedication, commitment, and steady leadership have been instrumental in our progress over the past two decades and will be vitally important as we work to realize our important aspirations for the future.”  He went on to say, “It is also humbling to welcome Tim Crouch to our team, an experienced leader who understands and appreciates the importance of being mission-driven. His character-driven orientation and experiences as part of a historic campaign at Mercersburg will be pivotal in the years ahead.”