William Daniel Nicholson II has accepted the position of vice president for development and executive director of the Coastal Educational Foundation, effective Nov. 1, according to an announcement today by Coastal Carolina University President Ronald R. Ingle and William H. "Billy" Alford, president of the foundation.

The vice president for development is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major donors for the university including corporate prospects and foundations. He will also provide leadership for the management of the Coastal Educational Foundation, the eleemosynary corporation that raises private funds for the support and development of the university.

Nicholson has 18 years of experience in South Carolina higher education in the areas of corporate and foundation relations, development, admissions, alumni affairs and athletics fund-raising. Most recently, he has been the director of corporate and foundation relations at the Medical University of South Carolina. Nicholson also has served as director of annual fund, alumni affairs and athletic fund-raising at Charleston Southern University and director of development at Coker College.

Nicholson earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Charleston Southern University and a master's degree in education with an emphasis in higher education administration from the University of South Carolina. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of South Carolina.

Nicholson has extensive involvement with community service organizations including the Charleston United Way, Hartsville United Way, Hartsville Chamber of Commerce, American Red Cross, Pee Dee Boy Scouts of America, Hartsville and Charleston Rotary Club and the Connie Maxwell Children's Home. Nicholson has been a member of the Council of Advancement for Support for Education (CASE).

Nicholson was named to the post following a national search that attracted 87 applicants.