Director of the Ridley Scholarship Program

The Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with the University of Virginia Alumni Association in the search for a Director of the Ridley Scholarship Program.

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer of the University of Virginia Alumni Association, the Director of the Ridley Scholarship Program will manage and coordinate all aspects of the Ridley Scholarship Program, including, but not limited to, fundraising, programming, supporting the work of Ridley’s Board of Directors, and administrative efforts. The Director will serve as a critical link between Ridley and the University community at large. The successful candidate must reside in Virginia and be available to attend meetings regularly in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The Walter N. Ridley Scholarship Fund was established in 1987 to honor the first African-American graduate of the University of Virginia. The fund has grown significantly since the time of its inception and has benefitted more than 300 of the University's most meritorious Black students. The Ridley Scholarship Endowment has surpassed $15M, and in 2018 Ridley successfully completed a campaign to increase Ridley scholarships to cover full tuition and fees.

As the University of Virginia embarks on its $5B Honor the Future Campaign, the UVA Alumni Association and Ridley are poised and eager to continue growing the fund. The Director will work collaboratively with leadership at the Alumni Association, the Ridley Board of Directors, and UVA advancement colleagues towards ambitious campaign goals and continued growth for Ridley.

The University of Virginia Alumni Association builds strong bonds and affinity on and beyond the campus. With a rich history of innovation and self-governance dating back 180 years, the UVA Alumni Association has been an invaluable partner to the University, incubating programs such as the Jefferson Scholars, the Parents Fund, the Virginia Athletics Foundation, the Lighting of the Lawn, and GivingToHoosDay. The Alumni Association’s programs and traditions, including Reunions, the Ridley Scholars Program, the Jefferson Trust, and Virginia Magazine, empower over 240,000 alumni to shape the world.

The University of Virginia was founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819 to advance human knowledge, educate leaders, and cultivate an informed citizenry. Today, News & World Report consistently ranks UVA in the top three public universities. In the 28 years since U.S. News began ranking public universities as a separate category, UVA has always ranked among the top three. The University of Virginia continues to place among the top 30 of the nation’s public and private universities combined.

Over its first two hundred years, the University of Virginia has been at the forefront of producing global citizen leaders, groundbreaking research and scholarship, and world-class patient care. As the University enters its third century, it continuously seeks to define and redefine itself, motivated by its shared passion for discovery, innovation, community, service, and social justice. One of the University’s top priorities is to create a living, learning, and work environment that supports—and challenges—its academic community. To achieve its mission, the University must be a place in which all faculty, students, and staff are active participants in its work, where those groups historically excluded from participation in University life are present in numbers that prevent isolation of the spirit and of the mind, and where each individual is conscious of how they contribute to the creation and dissemination of knowledge that enhances the well-being of the community, the state, the nation, and the world.

A bachelor’s degree is required for this position, as is at least five years of progressively responsible and successful fundraising experience with two or more years of proven experience in a position that requires interacting and collaborating with highly engaged alumni and major donors, supporting their activities and meaningful engagement, and fostering a cohesive group that encourages participation, dynamism, and fun. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of the Ridley Scholarship Program as well as the responsibilities and qualifications stated in the prospectus.