COLBY COLLEGE BACKGROUNDER | 1
Associate Vice President for
College and Student Advancement
Colby College Waterville, ME
https://www.colby.edu/
Send Nominations or Cover Letter and Resume to:
Zena Lum
Search Director
617-262-1102
The Opportunity:
Founded in 1813, Colby is one of America’s most
selective colleges and the 12th-oldest private liberal
arts college in the country. Serving only
undergraduates, Colby’s rigorous academic program
is rooted in deep exploration of ideas and close
interaction with world-class faculty scholars.
Students pursue intellectual passions, choosing
among 57 majors or developing their own.
Independent and collaborative research, study
abroad, and internships offer robust opportunities to
prepare students for postgraduate success. Colby is home to a community of 1,850 dedicated and diverse
students from 38 states and 70 countries.
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Under the leadership of its new president, David
A. Greene, Colby is building on this strong
foundation while remaining committed to
excellence, to supporting students and faculty at
the highest levels, and to the College’s deep
liberal arts traditions. President Greene’s vision for
Colby includes plans for creating innovative
academic initiatives and partnerships,
strengthening the connections between the liberal
arts and the professional world, revitalizing
downtown Waterville, and pursuing significant
capital projects for the performing arts and athletics.
For the rising advancement professional, this is the ideal time to join Colby as the leadership embarks on
plans to realize these ambitious goals and objectives. Colby is seeking an experienced and successful
fundraiser, leader and strategist who thrives in a dynamic and visionary culture to serve as its Associate Vice
President for College and Student Advancement. Ideal candidates will have a track record of securing
leadership gifts and will be able to demonstrate that they can develop and articulate a vision with specific
plans on how to engage all constituents in a way that moves them to meaningful positive actions on behalf
of the College. This is a new position that will play a key role in solidifying the foundation and resources for
Colby’s next comprehensive campaign and beyond. The position will focus on growing alumni engagement
and stewardship and expanding the major and principal gifts programs.
Position Overview – Associate Vice President for
College and Student Advancement
Reporting to the Vice President for College and Student Advancement, the Associate Vice President (AVP) is
a senior advancement leader with oversight of most philanthropic aspects of the advancement and alumni
relations teams with approximately thirty (30) highly talented professionals. S/He leads the efforts of Major
Gifts, Donor Engagement and Stewardship and Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving. The AVP is a highly
visible representative of the College, with a deep appreciation for the liberal arts college experience and a
strong personal commitment to Colby’s core values.
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Essential Functions and Responsibilities
Provide leadership and vision in the development and implementation of a strategic philanthropic
program
Lead a cohesive and highly collaborative set of programs that capitalize on Colby’s strengths and
maximize long-term gains in endowment, capital, programmatic and unrestricted funds
Work in close collaboration with advancement colleagues, campus leaders and Trustees to create
new strategic approaches that will maximize the effectiveness of these strategic partners
Demonstrate successful fundraising by modeling outstanding performance with a core portfolio of
top prospects
Secure significant philanthropic support for faculty, athletics, student scholarships, academic
programs and key capital projects
Source, onboard, mentor, motivate and retain the best advancement professionals in the country
Analyze fundraising potential, establish clear measurable objectives and achieve stated goals
Lead metric-driven strategies to continuously increase engagement of alumni, friends in alumni
networks, top prospects, Trustees and other key stakeholders
Elevate the stewarding of gifts in ways that strengthen donors’ interest and engagement with Colby
Contribute to an environment where staff feel a positive sense of professional accountability for
personal, team, division and college goals
Assess cultivation and solicitation activities, then provide training, guidance and motivation that
increases the effectiveness of donor or prospect activities
Foster a professional work environment that recognizes new ideas, builds confidence, encourages
teamwork and promotes diversity
Oversee budgets for assigned areas
Maintain a leadership style that empowers staff through active communication and ensures
accountability for excellence through clearly defined and measurable goals
Work closely with the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees
Co-create a new integrated strategy with the Career Center, which has recently become part of the
division; actively engage students, alumni and parents in professional networking and mentoring
opportunities
Partner with the Communications Office to leverage social media, branding, newsletters and other
marketing channels to increase dialog with alumni and interested parties throughout the world
Perform additional duties as assigned
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Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred
Minimum 7 years of progressive experience, 10+ preferred, with at least 3 years of professional
supervisory experience
Proven ability to blend ambition, vision and strategic perspective with hands-on tactical execution
Demonstrated success in personally soliciting, closing and stewarding major gifts, with significant
experience closing gifts of $1 million or more. A high level of comfort and effectiveness working with
high net worth individuals and business leaders
Strong analytical skills with expertise designing, planning and managing successful fundraising, and
philanthropic events
Expertise in alumni relations and annual giving strategies with a history of implementing event
strategies that maximize returns on investment
Comprehensive understanding of relationship management
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
An ethical and integrity rich leadership style
The credibility, maturity and sound judgment that inspire the trust and respect of academic leaders,
donors, colleagues and team members
Technologically savvy with strong knowledge of Raiser’s Edge or similar advancement software
Appreciation for higher education in general and particularly for highly selective liberal arts
institutions
Ability to develop and lead campaign strategy
Ability to embrace and articulate Colby’s value proposition, what makes this College distinctive, and
why donors should make us their priority
Evidence of innovative programming and execution to capture attention, inspire, and increase
engagement among all constituents
Ability to travel, including a valid driver’s license and clean driving record.
Benefits
Colby’s success depends on its ability to recruit and retain the very best faculty and staff. In order to attract
top professionals, the College offers comprehensive, high-quality employee benefits that protect the health,
families and wealth of its employees. Flexibility allows employees to choose benefits that best fit their needs,
and benefits are a valuable part of the total compensation package.
Learn more about Colby’s benefits here.
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Client Overview
One of the finest liberal arts colleges in the United
States, Colby has an increasingly global reach and
an international reputation for excellence. Faculty
scholars from around the world and intellectual
students from more than 70 countries are drawn to
the scenic Mayflower Hill campus and to Maine’s
tranquil environment.
More than 250 faculty members and
approximately 550 other employees work together
to connect students with global experiential
learning opportunities and provide academic, administrative, and support services. One of central Maine’s
largest employers, Colby aspires to be the best workplace in the state and in the higher education sector.
For students, Colby’s study-abroad opportunities, internship opportunities and graduate-level research
experiences are pillars of their experience. In both the classroom and the field, students work closely with
professors – a collaboration that is transformational for both and often results in lifelong friendships.
In addition to the academic experience, co-curricular and campus life programs organized under the Colby
360 plan optimize learning opportunities and help students develop leadership and communication skills.
Members of the Colby community come from a range of backgrounds
and offer diverse perspectives. Every member of the community has
different experiences to share, enriching classroom and dining hall
discussions.
Community Impact
In March 2015, a steering committee, chaired by Colby College’s
President David A. Greene, convened to begin discussing ways to
build on existing efforts to transform downtown Waterville into a
more vibrant, dynamic destination for residents, visitors and
businesses. The effort is a partnership of Colby College and civic and
business leaders in Waterville, all of whom share the goal of
stimulating the city’s economic, retail and job growth.
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Since he arrived at Colby in July of 2014, President Greene has consistently emphasized the College’s
commitment to help drive positive change for the city. “The prosperity of Waterville and Colby have been
linked for more than two hundred years,” he said. “We have a terrific opportunity to further our shared
interests through strategic investments in Waterville’s historic center, long a regional hub for commercial
activity and the arts.”
In his role as executive vice president at the University of Chicago, Greene was instrumental in successful
efforts to revitalize areas on the city’s South Side. Those efforts centered on economic development, which
will be a key element of the Waterville planning discussions. Questions will include how to increase the
residential and retail base in downtown Waterville and how to build on existing strengths in the arts to turn
the city into an even more dynamic cultural center.
Members of the steering committee include representatives from the City of Waterville, Mid-Maine
Chamber of Commerce, Waterville Main Street, Waterville Creates!, and the Maine Film Center, as well as
leaders from local businesses, hospitals, and colleges. “This partnership has the potential to make a
tremendous difference for the people of the city and the surrounding areas,” said Waterville Mayor Nick
Isgro. “I am glad to be involved, and I’m looking forward to a productive process with this group of
committed members of our community.”
For more about Waterville’s revitalization project, please refer to
https://www.centralmaine.com/2015/09/29/for-colby-college-president-and-waterville-mayor-the-vision-
widens-for-downtown-waterville/
President David A. Greene – A Vision for the Future
David A. Greene took office as president of Colby College on July 1, 2014.
Asserting, “This is Colby’s moment; this is Colby’s time,” President Greene called
in his inaugural address for Colby to “move to a preeminent position among the
world’s liberal arts colleges.” To launch the current academic year, he reaffirmed
an unswerving commitment to:
academic excellence sustained by a rigorous and supportive intellectual
culture;
exemplary teaching by leading scholars;
a broad liberal arts curriculum that prepares students for lives of meaning,
purpose, and impact;
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a vibrant residential and co-curricular student experience; and
a diverse and inclusive community that brings richness and dynamism to learning.
Colby is building on this strong foundation of deep liberal arts traditions while writing a new chapter that
includes bolstering diversity and inclusion, becoming a more globally focused college, and connecting the
liberal arts to the world of work. President Greene will ask faculty and senior staff to make ambitious and
actionable recommendations in these areas in the coming months, believing that these are areas where
Colby could carve out a national leadership position that would strengthen its identity and the preparation
its students receive for postgraduate success.
Colby recognizes that a local focus on the connections to and support of Waterville and the surrounding
areas are also essential to long-term success. Over the last several months, President Greene has chaired a
steering committee of local business and civic leaders to develop a framework for the revitalization of
Waterville's Main Street, its historic center. That process has resulted in a clear set of agreements on how
Colby might work together with civic and business leaders to greatly improve housing, lodging, retail and
small business development downtown. This commitment to the local community also informed recent
planning for new performing arts and athletic and recreational facilities at Colby, focusing from the very
beginning on how these significant investments could support college programs and needs while also
engaging and enriching the community.
Colby is also pursuing several innovative academic initiatives that are designed to improve the college’s
capacity to meet its mission and allow its faculty, students, and staff to do their very best work. Fostering a
culture of innovation and aspiration and creating multiple areas of program distinction will further
strengthen the strong connection of liberal arts to broader world. Colby's liberal arts education will continue
to be the very best platform for those who will think deeply and nimbly, will approach problems with an
understanding of context and an appreciation for nuance and tradeoffs, and will ultimately shape fields of
knowledge, institutions and societies.
Biography
Prior to this appointment, President Greene was executive vice president at the University of Chicago. He
previously served in leadership roles at Brown University and Smith College.
At the University of Chicago, Greene oversaw numerous departments and units as well as many of the
highest-priority initiatives of the university. These included the university’s affiliation with the Marine
Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, the establishment of the Becker Friedman Institute for Research in
Economics, the development of research and teaching centers in Beijing and New Delhi, the revitalization of
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community and commercial areas in Chicago, a master plan to support $3.5 billion in facilities and
infrastructure improvement and expansion, and capital projects including new residence halls, research
buildings and arts facilities.
Prior to joining the University of Chicago administration, in 2006, Greene was a vice president at Brown,
where he was the senior officer responsible for policies and planning that optimized the educational
environment for the university’s undergraduate, graduate and medical students. He also worked with the
president to develop the “Plan for Academic Enrichment,” the University’s long-term plan. He played a
similar role at Smith College, where he helped oversee planning efforts that resulted in an ambitious
program of facilities and programmatic expansion. Early in his career he held appointments at Hartnell
College and Wells College.
Greene’s research interests include social and political movements and their influence on individuals and
institutions and the economics of education. He is the author of The Women’s Movement and the Politics of
Change at a Women’s College. Greene speaks frequently to international audiences about globalization and
education.
Greene received a bachelor’s degree in history from Hamilton College and a master’s degree in human
development and psychology as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in education and social policy from
Harvard University.
College and Student Advancement
Annually, Colby raises about $20 million in restricted and unrestricted contributions, of which $6-7 million
are designated for the annual Colby Fund. Alumni participation averages 45% and alumni engagement 50%.
Colby’s overall fiscal health is very strong as the college boasts an endowment currently valued at
approximately $740 million. Over the next several years, Colby’s advancement team will be raising sights to
double annual fundraising and to bring alumni
participation above 50%.
On June 30, 2010, Colby exceeded its $370-million
Reaching the World campaign, raising a total of
$375,886,268 million in the largest fundraising
campaign in Maine's history. The college is in the
planning stages for its next campaign with
expectations to launch next fall.
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Career Center
Important to success both as a Colby student and alum, the Career Center is a leading benefit of a Colby
education. As part of the Division of College and Student Advancement, The Colby Career Center offers both
creative and innovative programs that augment student career development and life skills. The Career
Center offers a four-year career development curriculum including Exploration Resources (ensuring that a
major is a good personal fit as well as exploring career development opportunities), Resume
Review/Approval, Networking Resources (strategy and correspondence review), Interviewing Preparation,
Etiquette, and Negotiating and Salary Information.
Leadership
Daniel G. Lugo
Vice President for College and Student
Advancement
Daniel G. Lugo was named Colby College’s vice
president for college and student advancement in
January 2015. In a newly configured role, Lugo
oversees development, alumni relations, and the
networking that will allow the College to bolster
students’ experiential opportunities.
Previously, he served as vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid at Franklin & Marshall
College in Lancaster, PA. “Daniel Lugo is a remarkable higher education leader,” said Franklin & Marshall
President Daniel R. Porterfield. “He has vision, intellectual clarity, outstanding analytical skills, tremendous
professionalism, and an abiding love for liberal arts education. His terrific work at F&M led to significant
enhancements of the student experience and helped position the college for sustained excellence. While
we’re saddened to see him go, his impacts were meaningful, and he will go on to do great things.”
Lugo is a graduate of Carleton College. He earned a law degree at the University of Minnesota and practiced
intellectual property and entertainment law for nearly a decade before returning to Carleton, where he
worked in progressively responsible positions in admissions and advancement. Lugo’s leadership was
instrumental in elevating Franklin & Marshall’s student and institutional profile, financial aid resources, and
admissions efforts. Throughout much of his career in higher education he has helped to develop cultivation
and solicitation strategies for high-level donors and worked collaboratively on communications programs
that have advanced the institutions’ missions.
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Location
Waterville, ME
Colby and Waterville offer a vibrant arts
scene including the finest college art museum
in the country, one of the nation’s great
independent cinemas, and the Maine
International Film Festival. Located on the
banks of the Kennebec River, Downtown
Waterville is home to a unique mix of shops,
restaurants and services. There is a year round
calendar of outstanding events, such as the
Maine Open Juried Art Show and the Downtown Waterville Farmers’ Market, along with standout cultural
assets, including the magnificent Waterville Opera House and the Waterville Public Library.
Members of the Colby community have access to Quarry Road Recreation Area, within walking distance of
campus, which offers opportunities for skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, running, biking and rock climbing. The
College also owns 10-acres of lakefront property just seven miles from campus. Not far from campus is the
Belgrade Lakes region. A great place to live or visit, the region includes seven large lakes, inviting villages,
and lots of friendly local charm.
Just five minutes from Interstate 95 and halfway
between the Atlantic Ocean and the Appalachian
Mountains, Colby’s location provides easy access to
outdoor recreation and to the towns and attractions
of coastal Maine. The state capital of Augusta is 20
miles south of Waterville, and is focused on
preserving and celebrating the state’s history. The
city is also the home of the Pine Tree State
Arboretum, a 224-acre park and botanic garden, with
six miles of hiking, biking and cross-country skiing
trails, open for free, all year round. Travel another half-hour or so down I-95 and you can be in Portland,
Maine - the state’s largest city and dubbed by Bon Appétit magazine as the "Foodiest Small Town in
America” for its innovative restaurants and growing number of award-winning chefs. A two-hour drive east
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will bring you to Mount Desert Island where you can experience the beauty of Acadia National Park, the first
national park to be designated in the East and site of Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain along the
eastern coast of the United States.
Travel beyond Maine is also accessible with multiple airports within an hour of Waterville at Augusta State
Airport and at Bangor International Airport. In Waterville, the Robert LaFleur Airport is a general aviation
airport where private aircraft owners can land and take off from the airport at any time of the day or week.
The links below provide additional information on Waterville and the surrounding region:
Things to See and Do
Maine Weather
Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce
Background Checks
Prior to submitting your resume for this position, please read it over for accuracy. LLLS does verify academic
credentials for its candidates, and our clients frequently conduct background checks prior to finalizing an
offer.
To learn more, call
Zena Lum, Search Director
617-262-1102 ext. 214
or send nominations or cover letter and resume to
All inquiries will be held in confidence.
Colby is a private, coeducational liberal arts college that admits students and makes employment decisions on
the basis of the individual's qualifications to contribute to Colby's educational objectives and institutional
needs. Colby College does not discriminate in its educational programs or employment on the basis of race,
color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, national origin, age, marital status,
genetic information, or military or veteran’s status. Colby is an equal opportunity employer and operates in
accordance with federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination. Colby complies with Title IX, which
prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in an institution’s education programs and activities. Questions
regarding Title IX may be referred to Colby’s Title IX coordinator or to the federal Office of Civil Rights. We
encourage inquiries from candidates who will contribute to the cultural and ethnic diversity of our college.
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Setting the Standard in Development Search
420 Boylston Street, Suite 604, Boston, MA 02116
617.262.1102
www.LLLSearches.com
Vice President Assoc. Dir. of Adv. Com. Dev. WriterAssociate Vice President
Dir. of Advancement Strategy and Analysis
(ASA)
Dir. of Engagement and Annual
Philanthropy (EAP)
Advancement Operations
(AO)
Director of Career Center (CC)
Executive Assistant
Director of Development (ADV)
Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs
(GSP)
Associate Director of GSP
Asst. Dir. of Student
Engagement & Annual Phil.
Asst. Director of Parent Giving and Programs
Asst. Director of EAP
Development Officer
Development Officer
Development Officer
Development Officer
Director of 50th Anniversary
Reunion Pgms.
Associate Director of Gift
Planning
Sr. Assoc. Dir. of AO and
Advancement Operations
Assoc. Dir. of Advancement Operations
Sr. Adv. Systems
Developer/ Analyst
Sr. Adv. Systems
Developer/Analyst
Associate Director of
Data Services
Gift & Bio. Data Specialist
Gift & Bio. Data Specialist
Associate Director of CC
Assistant Director of CC
Assistant Director of
Internships and Employer Rel.
Assoc. Dir. of Employer Relations
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant
Career Counselor
Development Officer
Assoc. Dir. of Class Giving and Programs
Asst. Dir. of Class Giving and Programs
Asst. Dir. of Class Giving and Programs
Assoc. Dir. of EAP & Dir. of Parent Giving and Programs
Assoc. Dir. of EAP
Assoc. Dir. of EAP & Dir. of Alumni Pgms.
Asst. Dir. of President’s
Leadership Soc.
Assoc. Dir. of EAP and Dir. of Class Giving and Programs
Assoc. Dir. of Prospect
Research and Analysis
Asst. Dir. of Prospect
Research and Analysis
Administrative Assistant(Lead)
Administrative Assistant(Lead)
Administrative Assistant(Events)
Administrative Assistant(Events)
Administrative Assistant(Budgets)
Administrative Assistant(Budgets)
Director of Donor Engagement and Stewardship (DES)
Assistant Dir. of DES
Associate Director of DES
Revised October 16, 2015
Administrative Assistant
(RE Reports)
Administrative Assistant
(50th Reunion)
Division of College and Student Advancement Organization Chart