Lasting Legacy: Farah Marks’ unwavering dedication and collaborative spirit leave transformational mark on Randolph

Relationship-building has been at the center of Farah Marks’ nearly four decades at Randolph College. 

“When I think about my career at the College, I kind of have this mental timeline in my head,” said Marks, vice president for institutional advancement, who is retiring this spring. “There have been so many changes, but within that, one thing that really has not changed is the support and loyalty of our alums. We have a group of very dedicated alums and donors. I feel like we stand on the shoulders of these women.” 

Marks, who graduated from Mary Washington College with a degree in business administration, began her time here in the admissions office and, over the years, held multiple positions across campus, including assistant director of operations for admissions, assistant director of donor relations, director of advancement services, and director of development. 

She was named vice president for institutional advancement in 2017 and has fond memories of working alongside longtime employees like Skip Kughn and Jean Stewart. 

“I don’t think the trajectory of my career here was planned,” Marks said. “I just had different skill sets that could contribute in different ways.”  

Marks worked part-time at the College for many years while raising her two children, who both attended the Randolph College Nursery School. 

“This campus has been such a wonderful place to work as a woman, something I feel very strongly about,” she said. “Its history as a women’s college perpetuates this understanding and support for women. I always felt very supported, even when I was working part-time. A lot of women don’t have that at their job.” 

When announcing Marks’ retirement, President Sue Ott Rowlands praised her fundraising success for the College’s Annual Fund and the many campaigns she has led, including the Martin Science Building renovation. 

“Thanks to her leadership, creative thinking, and hardworking staff, we were able to begin this much-needed, $23 million renovation,” Ott Rowlands said. “This is just one example of how her successful relationships across our donor base and exceptional fundraising record have made life better for all of us at the College.

“Farah’s collaborative spirit is evident in everything she does,” Ott Rowlands added, “and she will be missed.” 

Development work is all about matching the right donor to the right project. Marks loves when she’s able to do that, like when she secured a $1 million gift for one of the College’s master’s programs. 

“The program was something that resonated with the family,” Marks said.

“The fact that we are able to find people willing to step up and fund these projects to enhance the academic offerings and growth of the College is amazing,” she added. 

Marks has also been very active in the Lynchburg community for years. She served on the boards of Lynchburg Symphony Youth Orchestra and Endstation Theatre Company.

She is currently a member of the Forte Chamber Music and Riverviews Artspace boards and plans to continue volunteering in retirement. 

Marks will also remain in Lynchburg, not far from the campus she’s considered home for decades. 

“I’ll be watching Randolph’s continued progress and success,” she said. 

“We just have the best staff,” she added. “I consider some of my best friends work friends, and that makes it not feel like work.”

This story appears in the Spring 2025 issue of the College’s Magazine, “Vita Abundantior.”