supremely suited
Story by Susan O'Connor, Photo by Courtney Fitzwater
Cristian Murdock entered his current profession quite by accident, but his turn of fate brought him into work for which he is supremely suited.
Exemplary work at a phone-a-thon while a first year student at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., in 1994 led to a fundraising position at the institution. He graduated with a master of divinity in 1996, but continued as director of development for the seminary until 2000. From there, Murdock blazed record trails in similar positions around the country, leading the way back to the work of his heart, university development.
“The first year of the phone-a-thon, I raised 48 percent, and the other nine people raised 52 percent,” he said, clearly enjoying the memory of his first foray into fundraising. “The second year, I raised 52 percent and the other nine raised 48 percent.”
A native of Oklahoma, Murdock played baseball for Oklahoma State University. He met his wife, Kerry, a graduate of East Central University. Both earned undergraduate degrees in 1993 and married soon after graduation. The Murdocks have two children, McKennah, 12, and Will, 7.
After eight years in Louisville, Murdock received a job offer from the American Cancer Society (ACS) in Oklahoma City, which would allow the couple to be closer to family. It was a move they couldn’t pass up. Murdock’s new position at the ACS was director of estate and asset services, which entailed a focus on planned gifts to the organization. “I was passionate about the cause, because my father-in-law had recently died of cancer at age 55.”
In that role, Murdock raised more money than anyone in the history of the ACS. During his two-year tenure, he put information about gifts to the ACS into the hands of financial advisers across the country. As clients planned their giving, as well as their wills, a word mentioned about the ACS brought substantial gifts. Virtually everyone’s life has been touched by cancer, Murdock pointed out.
“I simply put the right information into the right people’s hands,” he said. “Fundraising is about building relationships, and then working to get things done.”
From there, he took the position of director of charitable planning at Guidestone Financial Resources in Dallas, where he raised funds for the retirement accounts of pastors and other church employees. Under his leadership, the fund reached a surplus, allowing disabled pastors to be added to the list of worthy recipients.
Interestingly, Murdock said that the most committed donors were retired pastors, who “knew those guys and gals who were pastoring out on dirt roads and the needs that they had.”
Although his family had grown to love Dallas, Murdock was strongly recruited by Union University in Jackson, Tenn., in 2004 to lead the university’s $110 million capitol campaign.
“It was nice to get back into higher education,” he said. “My heartbeat is higher education.”
After successfully leading the capitol campaign at Union University, the family moved back to Dallas in 2006, where Murdock served as executive director of national major giving at Southern Methodist University.
He has served as vice chancellor for university advancement at ASU since August 2008, and the results of his leadership already speak loudly. Last year, gifts to the institution totaled $14.8 million. The best previous year was $8.3 million. This month, ASU will announce the largest individual gift in the institution’s history, Murdock noted.
“But we want to get across that we appreciate a $50 gift from a school teacher making $28,500 — a gift that is just as valued, just as important as a million dollar gift.”
Murdock has set high goals for ASU as the institution embarks on a new capitol campaign: To be first in alumni participation for public institutions in the Sunbelt Conference, and then the state.
“It will be a challenge for us,” he admitted. But Murdock will no doubt meet the challenge head on.
What is it about your career that is most fulfilling? The most fulfilling thing is knowing that every day I wake up and know I am helping people improve their lives. Whether it is raising support for scholarships to enable students to attend ASU, securing a gift for a faculty chair to attract or retain a great faculty member, or securing a private grant to enhance research to make Arkansas and this world a better place to live, I count myself fortunate.
What do you and your family enjoy most about life in Jonesboro? My family and I enjoy many things here in Jonesboro. It is great to have a short commute. My children attend Valley View schools and my wife volunteers at Valley View, often reading books to the elementary school children. We have enjoyed going to the lake with friends we have made here in Jonesboro. We are hoping in the next month to finally settle on a church home. One of the biggest changes is we are all learning to love the outdoors more. The entire Murdock family has learned how to shoot a shotgun, including my daughter, and we are all ready to take on the ducks this winter.
What type of music dominates your iPod? My iPod is eclectic to say the least. My staff at ASU laughs at what is in it. Country and alternative rock dominate, but I also have lots of Christian, classic rock, hip hop and even show tunes. Johnny Cash is my all-time favorite. I have more Johnny Cash songs than anything else.
What is your favorite leisure activity? Spending time with my family and playing golf. I spend lots of time watching sports, as well.