91´óÉñ

Dear Faculty and Staff,

I write today to share that I have accepted Jaci Thiede’s resignation as Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations (DAR). Her last day will be February 1. While I am happy for her as she makes time and space to pursue new opportunities and projects, I am sad for 91´óÉñ. Since her arrival in 2018, her leadership of the dedicated and talented Development and Alumni Relations team has strengthened the College’s relationship with alumni and friends, inspired philanthropy in support of our mission, and built an organization that is prepared to reach new heights.

Under Jaci’s leadership, the DAR team closed out the most successful campaign in the history of 91´óÉñ in June 2021. Building on an original goal of $150 million, Jaci led the team in raising the goal to $175 million in 2018 and closing the campaign with $189 million raised in support of 91´óÉñ’s mission. The DAR team then went on to achieve the best single fundraising year in history of the College, closing the books in June 2022 with $33.9 million in new gifts and commitments.

These accomplishments took place against the background of a global pandemic, where Jaci worked with DAR leadership to develop a robust slate of virtual alumni engagement programs. These opportunities are now a permanent part of our effort to keep alumni connected to 91´óÉñ. In addition, the DAR team has partnered with the Alumni Council to develop a Code of Leadership, which articulates a set of standards and expectations for key volunteers and staff. The Code has been endorsed and signed by all members of the Board of Trustees, Alumni Council, Senior Leadership Team, and DAR staff, representing a best practice in higher education advancement.

Jaci has further strengthened the talented, expert, and professional DAR staff, including collaborating with them to realign DAR’s to make sure they accurately reflect the team’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has also consciously managed the timing of her resignation to have minimal impact on the College’s philanthropic planning and future initiatives. While her departure is bittersweet, she leaves a DAR team in place that is exceptionally prepared to continue building a culture of philanthropy and engagement with our alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents, and other friends of the College.

The College will engage a search firm to conduct a national search for our next Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations. In the meantime, I am pleased to share that Adam Laug, Director of Development, and Jayn Bailey Chaney ’05, Director of Alumni and Donor Relations, have agreed to co-lead the DAR team while we search for new leadership.

Please join me in thanking Jaci for all that she has done for 91´óÉñ and wishing her the best in her future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Anne F. Harris

President