May 04, 2012
Finalists for vice chancellor to visit campus
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The two finalists for vice chancellor for development and alumni relations will visit Southern Illinois University Carbondale next week for interviews and presentations to the campus community.
The candidates are William F. Sheehan, Jr., associate vice chancellor for development at the University of Missouri in Columbia, and Michael H. Stitsworth, formerly vice president for advancement and college relations at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.
Each candidate will discuss “The Imperative for University Development and Alumni Relations in the Current Higher Education Environment” during presentations to the campus community.
Curriculum vitae for each candidate are available at http://chancellor.siu.edu/current-searches/ .
Sheehan’s presentation and open forum is set for 2-3 p.m. Monday, May 7, in the Student Center Auditorium.
He has served as associate vice chancellor for development at the University of Missouri since 2006. His responsibilities include leading nine academic fundraising programs, the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations and the fund-raising aspects of Missouri’s Extension Services.
Sheehan establishes fund-raising benchmarks, goals and timelines for his division, which includes 25 staff members and 25 fundraisers. The division successfully completed the $1 billion comprehensive fund-raising campaign, “For All We Call Mizzou.”
From 2004 to 2006, he served as executive director for development and alumni services at Columbia College in Columbia, Mo. He provided oversight for the development and alumni program with specific duties related to human resource management and leadership, as well as fiscal responsibility.
Between 1998 and 2004, Sheehan served in a variety of positions at the University of Missouri, including executive director of advancement for the College of Arts and Science (2002-2004); director of development, Gift Planning and Endowments (2001-2002); development officer, Gift Planning and Endowments (2000-2001); and associate director of development, School of Nursing (1998-2000).
Sheehan spent 10 years (1988-1998) at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo. Positions there included director of residential life, dean of students and director of alumni relations and annual giving.
He earned both his doctoral and master’s degrees in higher and adult education and foundations from the University of Missouri in 1997 and 1987, respectively. Sheehan earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Central Methodist University in 1984.
Stitsworth’s presentation and open forum is set for 2-3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, in the Student Center Auditorium.
From 2007 to this year, Stitsworth served as vice president for advancement and college relations at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. That unit resulted from the merger of two former divisions, each with its own vice president.
Stitsworth directed 60 staff members in nine departments, and his division increased new commitments from $11.2 million in fiscal 2009 to $24.2 million in fiscal 2011, surpassing a goal of $22 million. Among his other accomplishments, Stitsworth’s division tripled the number of major gift prospects between fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2011.
Between 1982 and 2007, Stitsworth served in a variety of positions at Purdue University. From 2004 to 2007, he was director of advancement for the College of Engineering. He secured gifts totaling $25.6 million to fund scholarships, professorships, facilities, programs and unrestricted needs. In addition, Stitsworth solicited or served on the solicitation team for gifts that resulted in nine chaired professorships.
From 2003 to 2007, he served as director of international advancement at Purdue, a quarter-time appointment concurrent with his role in the College of Engineering. Between 1991 and 2004, Stitsworth served as associate director and professor in Purdue’s International Programs in Agriculture. From 1982 to 1991, he was an assistant professor and then associate professor in the Department of Youth Development and Agricultural Education.
Stitsworth earned his doctoral degree in educational administration (secondary) in 1987 from Indiana University in Bloomington, and his master’s degree, also in educational administration (secondary) in 1976 from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary science education from the University of Arkansas in 1975.