for
the Amherst campus of the University of Massachusetts
Mar.
30, 2001
|
Foundation official to oversee Development and Alumni units
 hancellor
David K. Scott this week announced an interim reorganization of University
Advancement.The announcement follows the resignation last month of Vice Chancellor Royster C. Hedgepeth, who accepted a job as vice president of philanthropy at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield and who will serve as a senior fellow at the Association of Governing Boards in Washington, D.C. Joseph E. Cofield, executive vice president of the University of Massachusetts Foundation, has been assigned to lead the Development and Alumni Relations operations on an interim basis, effective April 2. The appointment was announced by Scott and University President William M. Bulger. In explaining the changes, Scott said, "I believe it is very important to look at University Advancement as an integrative team comprising the four areas of Development, Alumni Relations, Government and Community Relations, and Communications and Marketing. An important element of Campaign UMass was the linkage of image, advocacy, and resources. To be successful in the future, we must continue to link these elements under a single vice chancellor for advancement, a position I created in 1994." In the interim, Scott said, the other units under University Advancement will report to the deputy chancellor. Those units are Government and Community Relations and Communications and Marketing. Scott said, "We are making these reporting changes on an interim basis because it is my belief that the future permanent chancellor should have the freedom to appoint the permanent vice chancellor for Advancement. The chancellor must have a close working relationship with the vice chancellor for University Advancement, and the new permanent chancellor should be involved in the search for a new vice chancellor. These interim arrangements will preserve the close relationship between Development and Alumni Relations, with the larger coordination for all units provided by the chancellor." Scott is stepping down June 30. Deputy Chancellor Marcellette G. Williams will become interim chancellor on July 1. President William M. Bulger said, "During this period of transition on the Amherst campus, it is imperative that seasoned leadership be in place to develop and implement strategies that build lasting support among our benefactors. Joe Cofield will bring tremendous talent and experience to the Amherst advancement effort, and I want to thank him for accepting this assignment. Under Joe's leadership, the development and alumni units will continue to be major assets as the University seeks a new permanent chancellor." Scott said he has worked closely with Cofield in the past, especially on an effort to gain endowed chairs for the University. "His presence will enhance this campus's ability to attract support for its core mission, building on the excellent foundation created by Royster Hedgepeth and the entire University Advancement team," said Scott. Cofield said, "We want the upward trajectory of the Amherst campus created under Chancellor Scott to continue, even as the campus undergoes this transition. We can't afford to miss a beat. I look forward to working with the existing staff to build upon the division's recent accomplishments." Cofield joined the foundation two years ago after 21 years in higher education fund-raising and development posts. Over the past two years, he has managed a restructuring of the foundation, which included the appointment of Bulger as foundation president and the recruitment of stellar volunteers to participate on key committees. Among the tangible highlights is the successful introduction of a system-wide major gift effort, which is on the verge of completing a $22.5 million, eight-month campaign to create 15 endowed chairs. The foundation has also assisted in the creation of a Corporate Scholarship program, which yielded receipts in excess of $750,000 over a four-month period. Cofield has also worked with chancellors at each campus to recruit top volunteer leadership. Former Goldman Sachs Vice Chairman Roy Zuckerberg, a 1958 graduate of UMass Lowell, agreed to chair the Foundation's Investment Committee. Zuckerberg leads a committee of top national money managers. The committee manages the University's endowment, which has grown from $47 million to $130 million since 1996. The foundation has also implemented a new reporting process that provides donors with easily updated status reports on the funds they have endowed. In previous posts, Cofield successfully completed a $122 million fund-raising campaign at Babson College, played a major role in Boston College's $125 million campaign, and initiated Brandeis University's planned giving/major gifts program, and served as Emerson college's vice president for advancement. He earned two Circle of Excellence Awards in Fund-raising from the national Council For Advancement and Support of Education for his work at Babson and a CASE best development effort award for his work at Boston College. |
