Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for University Advancement and CEO of the Foundation (VCUA), the Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Executive Director of Alumni and Donor Relations (AVC) plays a key role within University Advancement, developing and implementing a comprehensive alumni and donor engagement strategy across annual, major, principal, and estate giving programs. The AVC will lead a team of dedicated staff and inspire collaboration across the SIUE Foundation to develop an advancement continuum for donors by increasing interest, involvement, and investment. The AVC will work with the VCUA to plan and implement the University’s comprehensive campaign, collaborating across units to develop and communicate funding priorities and involvement opportunities. This position will also partner with various functions, colleges, and units to enhance the alumni and donor experience across the University. The AVC acts on behalf of the VCUA in matters related to Alumni and Donor Affairs, Campaign Management, and Advancement Programming.

Responsible for establishing and cultivating relationships and communication with existing donors, alumni, friends, corporations and foundations while working to uncover new donor, corporate and foundation prospects. Coordinates efforts for donor stewardship, fundraising goal setting, analytics and oversees and manages the campus-wide scholarship system including coordinating and training more than 50 unit scholarship administrators; managing the process from application through post-acceptance. Responsible for providing strategic leadership to the Alumni Association Board. Collaborating with the Alumni Association Board to create and implement a comprehensive engagement program designed to inform alumni and keep them involved with the University which results in a keen interest in the University's future and a willingness to be a part of supporting that future and the mission of SIUE. Partners with the colleges and schools to create and maintain pathways for alumni, and donor participation that advances the goals of the University; partnering with Development Officers to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward alumni giving.

Provided strategic insight about current and future donors to the SIUE Foundation. Oversight of prospect research office charged with utilizing tools and methodologies to systematically identify, analyze and profile potential sources of private support to SIUE, including individuals, corporations and foundations. Facilitate prospect, corporate and foundation strategy sessions with development officers to maximize fundraising efforts, effectively communicating findings from research and analysis. Provided campaign and development officer metrics in an effort to effectively reach goals. Manages website, campaign communications and donor correspondence including annual giving statements.

Established a defined strategy for achieving SIUE’s employer branding objectives. Worked to identify strengths, weaknesses and hidden elements of the organization’s culture to create unique messaging to attract and retain talent. Collaborated with key administrators to ensure campus recruiting efforts are aligned with key academic, programmatic and business priorities of the University. Accountable for the development of creative recruitment strategies, candidate sourcing, advertisement consultation, diversity outreach, resume review, as well as candidate screening techniques and interview structure. Additional roles include: developing and implementing print marketing materials, managing e-recruiting and social media initiatives.

Created, implemented, managed and modeled systems and practices that support extraordinary member and participant experiences. Promoted membership and program enrollment through interactions with existing and potential members. Coordinated program registration, including phone support, walk-in and web registration. Collaborated with marketing efforts to maximize enrollments. Provided ongoing support to Program Directors on related issues. Hired, trained and managed a large staff of service desk personnel and child care workers that cater to the needs of members and guests. Oversaw and handled daily transactions and deposits. Developed, managed and monitored the department’s operating budget to meet or exceed budget targets.

Helped start a new church that grew from relationships with un-churched neighbors into a community that reached the 400’s on highly attended Sundays and drew crowds of over 1000 at community events I organized and promoted. Having a “do whatever it takes” attitude, I wore many hats over the years while working on this project.Tasks: Church administration, marketing, accounts payable and receivable, donor correspondence, constant contact e-communication, recruiting, developing and overseeing 50+ volunteers, curriculum development, designed attractional community events, created welcoming atmospheres and follow up processes where guests were surprised by a fresh and enjoyable approach to church.

Helped a church of 400 grow in size to over 1,000 in attendance by marketing and implementing programs to attract and retain people from the community. Grew a hospitality volunteer force from 2 people to over 200. Created marketing campaigns that included brand identity, radio, bus, print and movie theater ads. Developed a follow up program, events and course structure to retain guests and help them plug into the life of the church.

Donor relations - recorded, reported, tracked and acknowledged charitable gifts made to the University of Illinois. Collaborated with hundreds of companies to identify and match donations. Recruited, hired, trained and supervised college office workers.