Dear University Community,

I am pleased to share that Deborah Rice has accepted the position of Associate Vice President for Philanthropy.

In this role, Deb will serve as the chief development officer at HSU, responsible for all fundraising programs including annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, research, and philanthropic services. She will work closely with the President and other University leadership. She will also take a lead role in planning and coordinating the campus-wide campaign to raise funds for student support.

I believe that Deb will bring positive and innovative leadership to the Philanthropy Office. She has been serving as Associate Vice President in an interim role for the last eight months. During that time, she has shown a strong ability to connect with donors and to help them understand how they can support efforts that make a real difference in the lives of students. She has also been developing plans to enhance overall philanthropic support for HSU, including a renewed focus on major gifts.

In making this decision, I consulted closely with Frank Whitlatch, who will be serving as Interim Vice President for University Advancement following my retirement. He offered enthusiastic support for Deb's appointment.

I would like to thank the search committee, as well as Lola Alto in my office, for their time and effort in this search. Thank you, also, to everyone who met with candidates on campus and provided valuable feedback.

Please join me in congratulating Deborah and wishing her the best in this role.

Sincerely,

Craig Wruck
Vice President for University Advancement