Samantha LaFon was named coordinator of donor relations at Vanderbilt in August 2026.

She joined the staff after serving as director of student-athlete development, women’s philanthropy and alumni stewardship at Appalachian State. In that role, LaFon led strategic programming that supported App State student-athletes in their athletic, academic and career development. She oversaw initiatives focused on leadership development, community engagement and career readiness while collaborating with campus and external partners to enhance the overall student-athlete experience.

LaFon also directed the department’s Women’s Philanthropy and Alumni Stewardship efforts, cultivating meaningful relationships with former student-athletes, donors and supporters through engagement opportunities, events and strategic communications. Additionally, she served on App State Athletics’ Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) Strategy Team, helping develop and implement educational resources and strategic initiatives to support student-athletes in maximizing their NIL opportunities.

An Appalachian State graduate, LeFon was a three-year letterwinner in women’s basketball serving as president of the school’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for two years and as vice chair of the Sun Belt Conference SAAC. She was also the Sun Belt Conference’s representative on the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group during the 2025-26 season.