Vice President for Advancement and President and CEO of the Ohio University Foundation

Ohio University, the first public university in Ohio and the
nation’s first land-grant university, has been recognized for its
long-standing commitment to student success and the value of the
education it delivers. The university has strong forward momentum,
having been designated a “Very High Research Activity” doctoral
institution in 2022 by the Carnegie Classification (the highest
rating for research-focused universities) and experiencing overall
success in its teaching, research, and service missions. As OHIO
builds on this track record and invests in future opportunities for
its students, the university seeks a Vice President for Advancement
and President and CEO of the Ohio University Foundation (VPA/CEO)
to lead its development and alumni relations operations.

Founded in 1804 and welcoming its first class in 1808, Ohio
University is a storied institution with an 1,850-acre main campus,
eight regional campuses and satellite learning centers, and a long
history of educating a diverse array of students from across the US
and around the world. Currently enrolling more than 28,000
students, it also boasts nearly 300,000 living alumni. In addition
to its new Carnegie Classification, OHIO welcomed its 23rd President
Dr. Lori Stewart Gonzalez in 2023. President Gonzalez’s vision
is to reinforce the university’s dedication to its core mission and
prepare OHIO for a bright future. An indication of that bright
future is the fact that OHIO has countered a national trend with
record enrollment the past two years. To ensure its long-term
success, OHIO is currently in the planning stages of a
comprehensive campaign, which will build on the momentum of the
last comprehensive campaign which concluded in 2015 having raised
more than $500 million in philanthropic gifts.

Reporting directly to President Gonzalez, the new VPA/CEO will have
the opportunity to shape this campaign effort, enlist leadership,
and guide it from planning through execution. Leading a team of
more than 80, the VPA/CEO will also enable new and substantially
increased levels of advancement activity and partner closely with
the university’s deans and other leaders. In addition to the
university role of Vice President for Advancement, this individual
also serves concurrently as the President and CEO of the Ohio
University Foundation, supervising the management of the
university’s philanthropic assets and serving as chief steward of
donor intent.

The successful VPA/CEO candidate will be an experienced fundraiser
adept at navigating complex environments and assuming a leadership
role in a comprehensive campaign. This executive will understand
and commit to an integrated approach to external relations that
embraces the efforts of multiple advancement disciplines and the
full range of campus constituents, especially the university’s
deans and other unit leaders. The VPA/CEO will resonate with and
model the university’s core values of learning and scholarship,
individualized attention, shared governance, diversity, integrity,
and civic engagement as well as the Ohio University Foundation’s
core principals, mission, and charter. At least 10 years of
progressively responsible managerial experience in development is
required, as is a bachelor’s degree (with an advanced degree
preferred). The VPA/CEO will demonstrate a superior ability to
build sincere, lasting, and productive relationships both
internally and externally; will work collaboratively within a
culture of shared governance; will demonstrate exceptional
leadership skills; and will possess superior communications
skills.

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited.
Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume
and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership
profile available at wittkieffer.com.

WittKieffer is assisting Ohio University in this search. For
fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by
July 5. Application materials should be submitted using
WittKieffer’s candidate
portal.

Nominations and inquiries may be directed to Greg Duyck, Mercedes
Chacón Vance, and Natalie Song at [email protected].

Ohio University is committed to promoting and supporting a
workplace and educational environment where healthy and respectful
conduct is the cultural norm. In support of this commitment, Ohio
University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color,
religion, age, national origin, ethnicity, national ancestry, sex,
pregnancy, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual
orientation, status as a parent or foster parent, military service
or veteran status, mental or physical disability, or genetic
information. Ohio University’s Equal Employment and Educational
Opportunity Policy (40.001) and Sexual Harassment and Other Sexual
Misconduct Policy (03.004(opens in a new window)) detail prohibited
conduct.

Should any member of the campus community experience discrimination
or harassment based on a protected class status, including sexual
harassment, other sexual misconduct, or retaliation due to a
protected disclosure or activity, they are asked to contact the
Director of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance and Title IX
Coordinator. Further, reports may also be submitted for violations
of the University’s policy on freedom of expression.

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