Dear Colleagues:
As you may recall from a previous message to the campus community, Jonathan Meer will be stepping into his new role as the lead development officer for the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music on August 1. In his place I elected to conduct an internal-only search for an Interim Vice President for Advancement. I envision this person leading the division for the next year while we navigate the many challenges facing the University through this public health crisis.
The search process is now complete, and I am pleased to announce that Amanda Klaus has accepted the offer of Interim Vice President for University Advancement, beginning August 1, 2020.
Amanda was selected from a talented pool of internal candidates and is very well-positioned for this important job, which includes leading our efforts around development, alumni relations, stewardship, and community relations. She will also serve as a key member of the President’s Cabinet and as the chief liaison to multiple subcommittees of our Board of Trustees.
As a proud alumna and member of the University Advancement team, Amanda most recently served as the Executive Director for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving. During her tenure, she has set goals, strategies, and objectives for engaging our 58,000 alumni network through print and digital communications, events, volunteer opportunities, and personal solicitations, while modernizing the University’s annual giving program. Her key contributions include the development of the Hawk Network, the Crowdfunding platform, the launch of the Senior Class Giving Campaign, management of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, and securing a seven-figure gift from decorated alumna, Linda Deutsch ’65 in support of student scholarships. Previously Amanda served as the major gift officer for the Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, securing over $1M in gifts and pledges, aiding in the development of the Dean’s Advisory Council, and helping to identify several members of the Board of Trustees.
Amanda’s passion for – and dedication to – Monmouth extends beyond her work in University Advancement. She has served as co-advisor to the Student Government Association, advisor for the Global Experience Program Trip to Haiti, lead administrator for the President’s Relief Fund, and a member of the Strategic Planning Committee. As a result, she was named the most recent recipient of the Stafford Presidential Award of Excellence.
Prior to Monmouth, Amanda worked in development at the Hospital for Special Surgery and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
I want to thank the members of the internal search committee – Mary Anne Nagy, Robyn Salvo, Jon Roos, and Joe Patten – for their efforts in conducting this search and in identifying such a talented lead candidate.
Please join me in congratulating Amanda on her new position.
Sincerely,
Pat
Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President