October 29, 2012

James Salmo named vice chancellor at SIU

by Tom Woolf

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale Chancellor Rita Cheng today (Oct. 29) named James G. Salmo as vice chancellor for development and alumni relations.

In his new role, Salmo also will serve as CEO of the SIU Foundation.

Salmo is vice president for college advancement at Rhode Island College in Providence, R.I., which has an enrollment of 9,000 students. Salmo also serves as executive director of the Rhode Island College Foundation.

His appointment, effective Nov. 28, requires SIU Board of Trustees approval, followed by formal endorsement by the SIU Foundation Board.

“Jim will bring significant experience in fundraising, management and leadership to the position, along with a demonstrated ability to hire and develop staff,” Cheng said.  “I am excited that he will be joining us.”

A St. Louis native, Salmo is familiar with SIU Carbondale and the region. His father is a Herrin native, and early in his career, Salmo spent three years as director of annual giving at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.

“I also have family friends who graduated from SIU who have nothing but positive things to say,” he noted.  “Knowing that is a plus; in this position, you have to know how alumni feel.”

Salmo also noted that SIU is “one of those great institutions” with strong research, teaching and athletics.

“The University offers a really strong balance,” he said.

Salmo has served in his current position at Rhode Island College since 2010.  He is responsible for developing and implementing all fund-raising strategies for capital, annual and deferred giving, and provides overall guidance and director to the college’s alumni relations program.

From 2003 to 2010, Salmo served as associate vice chancellor for development-health sciences at the University of Missouri in Columbia.  He was responsible for providing executive leadership and strategic direction for all health-care related fundraising programs at the university.

Among his previous positions, Salmo servied as vice president for advancement at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy (1997-2003); director of development for Whitfield School in St. Louis (1996-1997); and director of development for the University of Missouri School of Law (1991-1995).

Salmo earned a master’s degree in media/communication from Webster University in 1985 and a bachelor’s degree in theater from Saint Louis University in 1981.