Difference between revisions of "Office of Alumni and Development"
m (→Alumni Relations) |
|||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
Prior to Furda's appointment as VP, Alumni Relations focused on providing [[Alumni Benefits]], and overseeing [[Regional Alumni Clubs]], the [[Columbia University Alumni Federation]], and the [[Alumni Travel Study Program]]. | Prior to Furda's appointment as VP, Alumni Relations focused on providing [[Alumni Benefits]], and overseeing [[Regional Alumni Clubs]], the [[Columbia University Alumni Federation]], and the [[Alumni Travel Study Program]]. | ||
| − | Since taking over, Furda has overseen the launch of the [[Columbia Alumni | + | Since taking over, Furda has overseen the launch of the [[Columbia Alumni Association]], the [[Columbia Connections]] website, and effort to strengthen the [[Regional Alumni Clubs]]. The CAA has been the vehicle for kick-starting a number of alumni services and events. |
Furda was succeded in 2008 by [[Donna MacPhee]]. | Furda was succeded in 2008 by [[Donna MacPhee]]. | ||
Revision as of 22:40, 28 June 2011
The Office of Alumni and Development (formerly known as University Development and Alumni Relations or UDAR) is an executive level operation run by Executive Vice President Fred Van Sickle, i.e. they answer directly to PrezBo without intermediaries. It has a dual mission, as hinted by its name - cultivating a strong alumni base, and then getting their money. It can be argued that for a long time, Columbia skipped the first part of the equation.
They're at the top of the alumni relations and fundraising food chain at Columbia - all individual school and constituent offices answer to them. They are the force behind the Columbia Alumni Association, the Columbia Campaign, and they publish Columbia, the university's quarterly magazine for alumni.
Recent History
In 2010, Fred Van Sickle replaced Susan Feagin as the Executive Vice President. Van Sickle previously served as Feagin's right-hand-man and came with her to Columbia from the University of Michigan.
In 2009 UDAR rechristened itself as the Office of Alumni Development (possibly) in honor of its move to the newly built Columbia Alumni Center in McVickar Hall.
Until 2005, UDAR had its own website[1], which served as the main 'Alumni Website' and highlighted its efforts on both fronts - development and relations. In 2005, Columbia Connections was launched as the new alumni website. During the summer of 2007, the website was rebranded and reorganized as the website of the Columbia Alumni Association, shortly after the launch of the Giving to Columbia website. Previously, the UDAR and Connections websites maintained a page which listed the options and directions for donating. This marked an unofficial bifurcation of the two pursuits.
Alumni Relations
Although an Office of Alumni Relations had existed within UDAR, it wasn't until 2004 that it was elevated in importance when Eric Furda was appointed to the newly created position of Vice President for Alumni Relations. Previously, a single VP handled both alumni relations and development.
Prior to Furda's appointment as VP, Alumni Relations focused on providing Alumni Benefits, and overseeing Regional Alumni Clubs, the Columbia University Alumni Federation, and the Alumni Travel Study Program.
Since taking over, Furda has overseen the launch of the Columbia Alumni Association, the Columbia Connections website, and effort to strengthen the Regional Alumni Clubs. The CAA has been the vehicle for kick-starting a number of alumni services and events.
Furda was succeded in 2008 by Donna MacPhee.
Development
The history of fundraising at Columbia is interesting, comical, and often forehead-slap worthy. However, with the launch of the Columbia Campaign, Columbia has stepped up it's efforts on the development front, laying the groundwork with the launch of the Columbia Alumni Association on the relations side first, and the launch during Summer of 2007 of the Giving to Columbia website, a quantum leap in it's web-based fundraising and awareness efforts.
