Pamplin Advancement welcomes new team members

Kellie Grove and Lauren Gallops Castro have joined the Pamplin College of Business as new members of the development team managed by Marise Robbins-Forbes. Grove has been appointed director of major gifts, while Castro has been named assistant director for leadership gifts. Pamplin alumni and friends are invited to welcome them to their positions: grovek@vt.edu and lgcastro@vt.edu.

Grove comes to Pamplin from the College of Engineering, where she served for over five years as a development officer. There, she was responsible for soliciting six- and seven-figure commitments supporting current operations, endowment, and other capital purposes. With over 13 years of experience at Virginia Tech, Grove’s knowledge and experience will be essential to developing and strengthening relationships and growing the pipeline of major gifts for the success and mission of the college and university. 

Grove holds a Bachelor of Science from Bluefield College and has previously worked as a division sales leader with a direct sales company, while also serving as a leader on various community organizations.

Castro joins Pamplin from New York Life Insurance Company, where she served as a member of the field service team for the Roanoke general office. In her role with Pamplin, Castro will be focused on cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding annual funds for Pamplin alumni in support of college and university priorities.

A graduate of Radford University, Castro previously worked as patron services manager for Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. She serves on the fundraising committees for Roanoke-based non-profits Lishy’s Gift and Voices of Appalachia. She currently serves as president of the Roanoke Valley Alumni Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon and serves on the leadership board for Voices of Appalachia.  

“Kellie and Lauren bring relevant experience and a passion for Pamplin that I’m sure will resonate with our alumni,” said Robbins-Forbes. “I am excited to have them join our team at this important juncture in the Boundless Impact campaign.”