Jennings joined Florida State from the University of Virginia, where he served as assistant vice president for School Programs and Institutional Priorities, a position he held from January 2008 until joining Florida State in September 2010. During more than eight years with UVA, Jennings served as senior development officer for special projects in the central development office and as associate dean for development in the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. At Arts & Sciences, Jennings led the early strategic planning and implementation of a $500 million comprehensive campaign.

As assistant vice president at UVA, Jennings directed all fundraising activities that supported the university's initiatives for historic preservation as well as those for pan-university initiatives in the arts, sciences and technology. In addition, he managed the development staffs in the schools of Architecture, Education and Engineering, and he served in several interim assignments as vacancies occurred in the schools and units he directed. Jennings served as a key member of senior management in development and public affairs and was instrumental to the success of UVA's current $3 billion comprehensive campaign.

Prior to his University of Virginia appointment, Jennings held positions at Washington and Lee University, including posts as director of University Development, director of law school relations and director of Capital Giving Programs. During nearly 10 years with the university, Jennings' chief responsibilities included oversight of capital fundraising projects and the creation and implementation of the strategic framework for a $225 million comprehensive campaign.

Jennings is a respected leader within the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), delivering numerous presentations at CASE's District III annual conferences and serving as co-chair for the philanthropy program track in 2009 and 2010. He presided as co-chair for the CASE District III annual conference in 2012.

A native of Delaware, Jennings earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in psychology from James Madison University and his doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Virginia.

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