Brian Thornburg - Associate Director of Development, Athletics, Major Gifts - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Brian Thornburg

Title:
Associate Director of Development, Athletics, Major Gifts
Email:
Phone:
994-1696

Brian Thornburg joined the Buff and Blue Fund as Associate Director of Development, Athletics, in December 2024. In this role, he focuses on major gift initiatives for GW Athletics and helps implement strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects and donors.

Prior to GW, Brian most recently worked at the University of Maryland, where he served as the Associate Athletics Director for Major Gifts (2016-2024). Before Maryland, he worked at Penn State University where he served as the Director of Major Gifts for the Nittany Lion Club (2013-2016). Before Penn State, he served as the Assistant Director of Development for Intercollegiate Athletics and the Associate Director of Development for Intercollegiate Athletics, respectively, for the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund, Inc. (2002-2013). Prior to Virginia Tech, Brian served as the Intern for Annual Giving for the NC State Student Aid Association/Wolfpack Club (2001-2002).

Brian is a 1999 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Advertising from the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, with a minor in Public Policy Analysis. In 2001, he received his Masters of Education in Sport Management from the University of Georgia, and in 2024, received a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland. Brian is a member of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD). A native of Icard, NC, Brian resides in Washington, DC with his wife, Allison.