VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY RELATIONS
PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK FOUNDATION
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
College Park, MD
THE SEARCH
The University of Maryland, College Park seeks a strategic, collaborative development
executive to serve as vice president for university relations (vice president) at a pivotal time in
the university’s history. After successfully completing a $1 billion comprehensive fundraising
campaign in 2012, the university is in the quiet phase of the largest campaign in its history. This
new campaign will elevate and expand the university’s mission of service, enhance academic
distinction, and bolster its leading-edge research enterprise, positioning the institution to realize
its aspiration to be equal to the best public research universities in the nation.
The University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) has undergone transformational change over
the past ten years and is widely known and respected for its academic stature and impact,
ranking among the top 20 public research institutions in the country by U.S. News and World
Report. Faculty members are preeminent in virtually all fields of research and scholarship. UMD
has produced six Nobel laureates, seven Pulitzer Prize winners, more than 50 members of the
national academies, and scores of Fulbright Scholars. Research awards totaled $560 million in
FY16. UMD has been a member of the Association of American Universities since 1969, and on
July 1, 2014, UMD officially joined the NCAA Big Ten Conference and the Big Ten Academic
Alliance.
The vice president reports to the president and is a member of his cabinet. In collaboration with
the president and key academic and administrative leaders, the vice president will define and
articulate a bold vision that will carry forward and build upon existing momentum and excitement
surrounding the campaign. The vice president will conduct a strategic assessment of existing
philanthropic strengths and opportunities and ensure that the university is positioned for
success as it moves into the public phase of the campaign. Responsible for leading
development, the alumni association, and communications and marketing, the vice president
will play a lead role in significantly increasing engagement across the university community and
the country with alumni, prospective and existing donors, trustees, and volunteers to ensure the
success of the campaign and build a robust, sustainable university relations program. The vice
president will travel widely to meet alumni across the country and cultivate relationships with
legislators and other government representatives.
The next vice president will be an accomplished, strategic fundraising professional with at least
10 years of proven, successful leadership experience in advancement, constituency
engagement, and campaign management, preferably in a large, public research university. Ideal
candidates must possess strong analytical, managerial, strategic planning, and motivational
skills; a keen understanding of advancement best practices; a comprehensive knowledge of all
University of Maryland
Vice President for University Relations
major advancement functions, and a track record of significant personal success cultivating,
soliciting, and stewarding donors at the major and principal gift levels and working with or in a
supporting foundation. In addition, ideal candidates must demonstrate a high level of integrity
and character, and exhibit the maturity, sophistication, and credibility to effectively engage and
partner with key internal and external stakeholders. Equally important are extraordinary
communication and negotiation skills and the political savvy and flexibility to navigate a complex
academic community. Finally, ideal candidates must have a deep understanding of and passion
for the mission, goals, and aspirations of UMD. A bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced
degree is preferred.
UMD has retained the services of Mr. Jack Gorman of the national executive search firm
Isaacson, Miller to assist in conducting this search. Confidential inquiries, nominations, and
applications should be directed to Isaacson, Miller as directed at the end of this document.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
The University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), the flagship and land grant institution of the
12-campus University System of Maryland, is committed to educating outstanding students and
to advancing and applying new knowledge that promotes economic development and improves
quality of life in the state and around the world.
The University of Maryland’s proud past stretches back to 1856, when the tiny Maryland
Agricultural College was carved from part of Charles Benedict Calvert’s plantation along a dirt
road now called U.S Route 1. From its start with 34 students, the institution slowly grew to
include engineering and the liberal arts, and to add athletics, women and minorities. It survived
the Great Fire of 1912, re-emerged as a public college, and boomed following World War II.
Today, the university is a national powerhouse in research and academics, even as it embraces
its roots as a land-grant institution.
Today, UMD employs more than 9,000 faculty and staff members and has a $1.9 billion
operating budget. The university enrolls more than 39,000 students, including more than 10,000
graduate students, that participate in 92 baccalaureate programs and 190 graduate programs
within its 12 colleges and schools. Many of the University’s academic programs are highly
ranked, with more than 90 in the top 25 and 20 in the top 10. UMD’s academic strength spans
virtually all major disciplines. In particular, the university is renowned for its visual and
performing arts programs. Schools, colleges, and special programs within UMD include the
following:
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College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation
College of Arts and Humanities
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Robert H. Smith School of Business
College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences
College of Education
A. James Clark School of Engineering
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Vice President for University Relations
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The Graduate School
University Libraries
Undergraduate Studies
Philip Merrill College of Journalism
College of Information Studies
School of Public Health
School of Public Policy
UMD’s location is an exceptional strength across all disciplines, situated less than 10 miles from
Washington, DC, inside the Washington Beltway and its industry clusters; federal departments,
agencies, and research centers; embassies, think tanks, and nonprofit organizations; and the
legislative, executive, and judicial centers of power. Students and faculty have ready access to
the people and organizations of the nation’s capital. UMD is the only university with a major
science, technology, and engineering research capacity located within the Capital Beltway. The
university is fortunate to be in close proximity to Baltimore, the state capitol of Annapolis, the
Chesapeake Bay, the I-270 biotechnology corridor, numerous major corporations, international
organizations, and an unmatched array of governmental research entities.
Currently, there is more than $1 billion of ongoing capital construction, both on campus for
state-of-the-art educational and research buildings and for mixed-use real estate development
in the surrounding Greater College Park area. These capital projects are creating an ecosystem
for innovation and economic development, catalyzed by the university's assets and research
activities. By any measure, Maryland is one of the nation's preeminent public research
universities and is on a trajectory to become one of the world's best. The institution seeks to
capitalize on this momentum, promote its competitive advantages, and pursue ambitious goals
with great discipline and entrepreneurial spirit.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP ACT OF 2016
In 2012, UMD began a strategic partnership with the University of Maryland, Baltimore, known
as “MPower”, which generated joint research centers, joint technology commercialization that
increased licensing revenue by 72%; some 60 joint faculty appointments that contributed to
more than $70M in research awards; and new cross-university educational programs that
expanded opportunities for students. The University of Maryland Strategic Partnership Act of
2016 (SB 1052) strengthened the partnership between the two campuses by defining “The
University of Maryland” as a single entity comprised of both the College Park and the Baltimore
campuses. As a two-campus, single entity, the University of Maryland will have undergraduate,
graduate, and professional schools and be able to reach the highest levels of national
prominence in education, research, and economic impact on the state. In addition to attracting
federal research funding for broad, multi-disciplinary grants, SB 1052 also enables a much
wider range of opportunities for private philanthropic support.
STRATEGIC PLAN
UMD’s priorities are set forth in the 2015-2020 updated strategic plan "Equal to the Best”. The
plan calls for transformative excellence and impact in education, research, innovation, and
economic development to propel UMD from a top-20 to a top-10 public research institution. The
plan is based on core principles of access and affordability; shared governance; diversity and
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Vice President for University Relations
inclusiveness; an entrepreneurial ethos; public-private partnerships at home and abroad; and
the land-grant values of putting knowledge into practice to solve the pressing issues of the day
and improve the human condition.
LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE
Wallace D. Loh, President
Prior to his appointment as president of UMD in 2010, Loh was executive vice president and
provost at the University of Iowa. Previous positions held include: dean of Arts and Sciences at
Seattle University; director of executive policy and chief policy advisor to Governor Gary Locke
of Washington State; vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean of faculties at the University
of Colorado-Boulder; and dean of the University of Washington law school.
Loh was on the faculty at the University of Washington (where he was voted outstanding
professor of the year by students), Vanderbilt University, Emory University, University of
Houston, Cornell University, University of Texas-Austin, and Peking University. His scholarship
is in criminal justice and social research in the legal process.
Loh is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He chaired the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security's Academic Advisory Council. He is on the board of the American Council
on Education and of the U.S. Comptroller General. He was selected to the "Power 100" by the
Washington Business Journal and "Influential Marylander" by the World Trade Center,
Baltimore.
Born in China, Loh and his family moved to Peru during his childhood; after graduating from
high school, Loh immigrated alone to the United States and became a naturalized citizen. He
earned a bachelor of arts degree from Grinnell College, a master of arts degree from Cornell
University, a PhD from the University of Michigan, and a juris doctorate degree from Yale
University law school.
University of Maryland College Park Foundation Board of Trustees
The foundation board of trustees is composed of dedicated, influential volunteers who govern
the investment and distribution of private funds, serve as advocates, assist and advise the
university’s president, and help increase the level of philanthropic support for the university. The
board has three regular meetings per year. There are 45 elected trustees, 15 appointed
trustees, 26 ex-officio trustees, and additional advisory, honorary, and emeritus trustees. The
vice president for university relations serves as president of the foundation. Raymond Ferrara,
president and CEO, Pro Vise Management Group LLC is the current board chair.
UNIVERSITY RELATIONS
University relations advances the goals of the university by increasing resources and support,
enhancing awareness and affinity, and strengthening and developing relationships with the
university and the greater community.
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Vice President for University Relations
UMD successfully concluded the $1 billion Great Expectations fundraising campaign in 2012
through contributions and commitments from more than 124,000 donors, raising more than
$130 million during the last year of the campaign and positioning UMD to become one of the
world’s leading research universities. Seeking to leverage the success of the Great
Expectations Campaign and continue the university’s rapid ascent, senior leadership invested
significant resources into university relations in order to prepare for a subsequent
comprehensive fundraising campaign. Since the beginning of the quiet phase of the most
ambitious fundraising campaign in UMD’s history, more than 40 staff positions have been added
and significant upgrades to infrastructure have been implemented. Senior leadership intends to
continue the strategic investment as the university approaches the public launch of the
campaign, enabling UMD to elevate and expand its mission of service, enhance academic
distinction, and bolster its leading-edge research enterprise, driving progress on a global scale
in areas of policy, science, arts, and technology and elevating UMD to fulfill its aspiration to be
one of the top ten public research universities in the nation.
Today, university relations has an operating budget of $21 million and employs 283 staff.
Included in the division are development, the alumni association, marketing and
communications, administration, corporate and foundation relations, and the University of
Maryland College Park Foundation, Inc. (UMCPF). UMD raised a total of $170 million in FY16,
with 54 percent in gifts of at least $1 million and 17 percent in annual gifts. To date in FY17 the
university has raised more than $123 million, with gifts of at least $1 million making up 62
percent of the total. UMD is well on track to reach its audacious goal of sustainably raising $200
million in annual philanthropic revenue in the next few years.
University of Maryland College Park Foundation
The University of Maryland College Park Foundation Inc., a separate 501c3 organization, was
established in support of the university’s goal to become one of the top research universities in
the nation. Dedicated specifically to the University of Maryland, College Park, the foundation
provides opportunities for alumni, friends, corporations and charitable foundations to support
directly the mission and strategic priorities of the university.
University of Maryland Alumni Association
Representing more than 350,000 alumni, the alumni association is a dues-based membership
organization that seeks to connect, cultivate and channel the power of alumni to enrich
themselves and advance the university through a variety of programs and services. In addition,
the Alumni Association plans and coordinates numerous events and programs and provides
support for more than 50 active regional, academic and affinity networks. Alumni association
staff members report to the vice president..
VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY RELATIONS
Reporting to President Wallace H. Loh, and in close collaboration with UMD’s academic
leadership and foundation trustees, the vice president will define a vision for university relations
and ensure a robust infrastructure to support a comprehensive, best-practices program that
deepens the culture of philanthropy, advances the university’s strategic priorities, attracts new
sources of funding, engages alumni, students and friends, and enhances the visibility of UMD
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Vice President for University Relations
as a top national research university. The vice president also serves as president of the UMCP
Foundation board of trustees.
In addition to his or her formal duties, the vice president must become an integral member of the
UMD community and take an active interest in the economic, political, and cultural vitality of
College Park and the surrounding region. The vice president will reflect and embody the values
of UMD and its leadership, leading university relations and serving the university community
with integrity, warmth, humility, graciousness, and humor.
Following are the responsibilities and duties of this role:
Leadership Support and Engagement
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Guide and support the president in his role as chief spokesperson and fundraiser, serving
as coach, adviser, and co-strategist in cultivating and soliciting transformative gifts; ensure
that the president is professionally and effectively staffed regarding fundraising activities
and that his time is optimally utilized.
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Similarly guide and support the provost, deans, senior staff, foundation trustees, and other
volunteers in all fundraising activities, ensuring they are professionally and effectively
staffed and their time and talent are optimally utilized; ensure that trustees’ and volunteers’
intellectual and emotional connections to UMD and each other are strengthened.
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Work closely with the president and provost to systematically engage deans and faculty in
the fundraising process; provide deans with the resources and tools necessary to leverage
their most successful alumni and donors in supporting the needs and aspirations of their
schools; facilitate alignment and consensus across schools and units relative to advancing
UMD’s overall objectives.
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Serve as president of the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, fostering a
richer culture of philanthropy among trustees.
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Partner with regional business and community leaders and explore potential synergies that
might broaden support for and enhance the visibility of the university.
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Cultivate strong working relationships with academic and administrative leadership across
UMD; ensure that university relations is seen as a collaborative, proactive, and trustworthy
partner capable of professionally addressing opportunities and concerns.
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Serve as the president’s representative to current and prospective supporters, alumni, and
the UMD and College Park communities; travel throughout the state, nation and world in
order to build stronger relationships for the university.
Programmatic Elevation
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Assess the fundraising potential of the university, ensuring that UMD is well positioned for
the launch and execution of the upcoming campaign; craft a sophisticated multi-year
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strategy that leverages the success of the Great Expectations Campaign and seizes on
new opportunities for the upcoming campaign in order to drive annual philanthropic support
to $200 million over the next few years; continue to inspire and challenge the university
community to achieve sustainable long-term growth in philanthropic contributions.
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Expand collaboration with University of Maryland, Baltimore academic and university
relations colleagues to strategically engage shared alumni and maximize crossinstitutional, multi-disciplinary giving opportunities.
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Create a strong service orientation between university relations and the schools and units;
work closely with deans, assistant deans of development and alumni relations, and unitbased fundraising staff to develop and implement strategic plans to assure realization of
annual goals and key priorities; craft strategies to maximize unit-based and interdisciplinary
fundraising results.
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Remove organizational barriers to ensure that university relations teams collaborate and
communicate, internally and across the university, in order to better integrate university
relations across the institution and optimize the value it provides to the institution.
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Utilize clear and compelling communications to all audiences to reinforce the university’s
key priorities and strategic direction.
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Evaluate, strengthen, and enhance existing individual and corporate and foundation
relations programs. Develop and implement innovative programs to strategically and
systematically identify and engage prospective donors, increase donor retention, and bring
existing donors to higher levels of giving.
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Identify opportunities to more closely align the alumni association with development to
maximize engagement opportunities and outcomes; encourage alumni programming that
enhances and supports UMD’s national presence.
Management and Leadership
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Serve as the chief fundraising officer for the university, and personally cultivate, solicit, and
steward a select portfolio of high-level principal gift prospects and donors. Lead the
frontline fundraising team by example, demonstrating success and mentoring gift officers in
order to maximize philanthropic revenues.
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Assess current staff effectiveness and overall organizational structure; set clear direction,
priorities and measurable goals for staff; create a culture of transparency, communication,
and collaboration; advocate for staff, representing their concerns and needs and
advocating for resources as necessary.
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Foster a culture of integrity, ensuring that all staff members are committed to advancing the
university and its priorities while at the same time assuring that each donor’s intent is
honored and stewardship is transparent.
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Vice President for University Relations
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Maintain a leadership style that is open and fluid, capable of inspiring, empowering and
motivating staff; foster a work environment that recognizes and rewards performance,
supports new ideas and risk-taking, builds confidence, encourages interaction and
teamwork, and promotes diversity; celebrate current achievements and set clear
expectations for future success.
Qualifications and Experience
The vice president will bring many of the following professional qualities and experiences:
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A deep appreciation for the history, achievements, and aspirations of UMD and the ability
to articulate the university’s relevance and uniqueness.
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A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible fundraising and managerial
experience and proven success in a shared-governance environment, preferably within a
public research institution; experience serving on a senior leadership team and contributing
at the strategic level; significant experience and a proven track record of success in a
comprehensive fundraising campaign; experience working with a separate supporting
foundation.
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The ability to convey a compelling vision to all constituencies and build a robust, innovative
university relations program capable of realizing that vision.
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Experience and a proven track record elevating an existing university relations program,
utilizing established metrics and performance standards, resulting in a transformative
increase in philanthropic revenue for an institution; significant strategic planning and
program execution experience; familiarity with all areas of university relations, including
development, marketing and communications, and alumni relations.
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The credibility, maturity, and sound judgment required to effectively engage and leverage
senior leadership and volunteers in successfully cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding key
prospects and donors.
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A proven track record of success in personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts of
at least eight figures from individuals, foundations, and corporations; a high level of comfort
and effectiveness working with high-net-worth individuals.
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Proven success leading and managing staff and volunteers; a team builder that utilizes a
non-hierarchical approach and empowers and motivates staff while supporting and
advocating for them; a transparent, collaborative, and accessible leadership style; a history
of recruiting and developing exceptional talent.
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The political savvy to navigate a complex academic community; the desire and ability to
build bridges and strong collaborative relationships across a university with a diverse
alumni and constituent body.
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Vice President for University Relations
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Decisive with a proven ability to translate ideas into action, take thoughtful risks, and
achieve results; ability to adapt to and lead through ambiguity with a high degree of
autonomy and responsibility; persuasive, persistent, and determined.
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Imaginative, creative problem solver with strong critical thinking and analytic skills; datadriven decision maker; impeccable attention to detail with superb follow through; naturally
curious and able to recognize connections and opportunities.
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High degree of integrity, character, and emotional maturity, demonstrating respect for
individuals at every level of an organization; humility, a sense of humor and life balance; an
outgoing, optimistic personality; strong executive presence; commitment to the highest
standards of professionalism.
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High personal energy, self confidence, and resilience; the ability to function at peak levels
in a fast-paced, complex environment and to travel and work weekends.
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Exemplary interpersonal communications skills; active, engaged listener; superior written
and oral communication skills; clarity, crispness, and elegance in writing and speaking;
confident, assured public speaker.
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A desire to deeply engage in the local and university communities; keen understanding of
the role diversity and intercultural understanding play in achieving excellence.
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Sharp eye for operational efficiency and optimal use of resources; deep understanding of
budgets and proven success managing them.
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Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
To Apply
Jack Gorman is leading this search with Jean Jacoby and Billy Parker. For more information, to
submit a nomination, or to apply for this role, please visit www.imsearch.com/6179.
The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding
nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration
for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all
persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national
origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or
expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal
appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of
employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
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