Vice President for University Advancement and Public Relations

Eastern New Mexico University seeks a Vice President for University Advancement and Public Relations

Click here to view position profile: https://summitsearchsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ENMU_VPAdvancement_Profile.pdf

Location: Portales, New Mexico

The Position:

The Vice President for University Advancement and Public Relations (VPUAPR) is a member of the University leadership team serving under the President. The VPUAPR is the chief development officer for the University, directly responsible to the President for the planning and administration of a comprehensive program of fundraising and marketing compatible with the philosophy and objectives of the University. The Vice President will have three direct reports and a staff that has responsibility for the foundation, alumni affairs, scholarship and stewardship, public relations and communications and will be responsible for leading and providing strategic direction for the Advancement division of the University. This will include fundraising campaigns, major gifts and planned giving, alumni relations, marketing and public relations, university development, and corporate and foundation relations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides strategic, operational and administrative leadership for the Advancement Division and personnel assigned to areas of supervision.
• Articulates the critical role of private philanthropy and the opportunities for voluntary support.
• Guides the establishment and implementation of a broad range of advancement policies and procedures applicable to individual donors, corporations, and foundations.
• Identifies, cultivates, solicits closing and stewardship of potential and existing donors and opportunities for funding.
• Develops and maintains personal contacts with individual donors and prospective donors.
• Maintains the necessary relations to keep the institution's name and achievements alive in the minds of individuals, corporate and foundation executives, and board members.
• Ensures an expanding positive image of the University through effective marketing and public communications.
• Provides administrative direction regarding general fundraising objectives. Creates and executes fundraising plans that utilize best practices in annual, major and planned gift programs.
• Implements long-range planning and philosophy for areas of responsibility.
• Oversees the development of alumni relations.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the President.

Opportunities and Challenges:

• Working closely with the President and an external consultant, assist with the development and launch of a comprehensive campaign. Provide ongoing oversight and progress reports for this key activity to the President and other appropriate parties.
• The office of advancement has been restructured to include public relations along with all advancement responsibilities. The Vice President will have the opportunity to establish a high functioning team that includes members from both areas maximizing the natural synergy that exists between outreach and communications.
• Build a strategy to identify and nurture donor relationships. Create a systemic approach to maintain connections, identify the donor capacity, and to follow-through on all opportunities.
• Create connections throughout the community and the region that will provide opportunities for organizations to become “friends” of the University and support institutional initiatives.
• Use institutional and other data and feedback to anticipate and address needs of ENMU’s staff and faculty while encouraging a robust system of giving among these stakeholder groups.
• Maintain a dynamic portfolio of high-net-worth individuals and secure major capital, and planned gifts, as well as advanced annual gifts and endowment support.
• Encourage partnerships with educational institutions, businesses and community groups to help create a broader base of participation.
• Work with the advancement team to develop annual plans and budgets for Alumni Affairs, Annual Fund, Gift Planning, Major Gifts, Grant Development, Stewardship and Scholarship.
• Utilize fundraising technology to strengthen operations. Provide training and guidance for staff as these tools are integrated in daily department activity.

Qualifications:

Minimum Job Requirements:

• A master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, communication, external relations, leadership and supervision.
• Demonstrated proficiency with fundraising software to assist with and organize all fundraising activities.
• A proven track record of soliciting and closing major gifts, major and planned giving management, annual giving, direct solicitation, prospect management, public relations and marketing.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Possesses an understanding of current philanthropic and public relations interests of individuals, foundations or corporations, acquired through regular contact with those individuals and organizations.
• Works effectively with administrators, boards, faculty, alumni, foundations and corporate and community leaders.
• Exhibits direct and relevant experience with university comprehensive capital campaigns.
• Skilled in establishing and maintaining relationships with potential funding sources.
• Demonstrates understanding of general public relations and marketing principles.
• Demonstrates expertise in management, leadership, and working collaboratively with senior leadership teams.
• Possesses an understanding of the higher education landscape, and ability to work with academic and athletics units in identifying and developing potential fundraising sources.
• Experience in donor research, including data collection and analysis.
• Knowledgeable in the use of computers and standard computer software programs related to advancement, marketing and public relations.
• Works well with diverse populations and maintains positive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and the community.
• Demonstrates exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate clearly both in writing and verbally, develop and maintain close relationships with donors and prospective donors, and exercise sound judgment.
• Designated as a Responsible Employee as outlined by Title IX.

About the Institution:

Student Success – that’s what it’s all about!

For over 80 years Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) has prepared students for careers and advanced study. Its mission is to emphasize liberal learning, freedom of inquiry, cultural diversity, and whole student life. ENMU serves students of traditional age, adult learners and organizations through undergraduate and graduate programs.

Eastern New Mexico University is New Mexico's largest regional comprehensive university, offering over 130 certificate, associate, bachelor's, and master's programs. Dedicated to a student-focused mission, ENMU is comprised of three campuses: a four-year campus in Portales and two-year campuses in Roswell and Ruidoso.

History

Opening its doors in 1934 as Eastern New Mexico Junior College, ENMU added additional classes leading to a bachelor’s degree and was renamed Eastern New Mexico College in 1940. Next, ENMU was accredited as a four-year liberal arts college in 1946-47. Graduate work leading to master's degrees was added in 1949, and on April 5, 1949, the Board of Regents approved the change of the institution's name to Eastern New Mexico University.

Quick Facts & Accolades

• 96% Student Satisfaction Rate
• Texas students within a 135-mile radius qualify for ENMU’s in-state tuition rate
• Top 10% Most Affordable of Southwest Four-Year Universities
• com ranks ENMU #2 of 10 Most Affordable Colleges in Nation 2023
• com ranks ENMU #59 of 378 Best Hispanic Serving Institutions in America 2023
• com ranks ENMU as the safest 4-year University Campus in NM 2023
• ENMU earns 2023-2024 Military Friendly School Gold Designation

To view more awards, click here.

Strategic Plan

ENMU’s strategic plan sets forth goals and strategies that will enable the University to progress toward its aspiration of becoming one of the nation's leading land-grant universities, preeminent in research and discovery, teaching, and engagement.

Accreditation

In addition to its Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation, ENMU has earned program accreditations from the following agencies:

• National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• ENMU is on the approved list for the American Chemical Society, offering an ACS-certified degree.

Students

Eastern New Mexico University enrolls a total of 7,224 students across its three campuses. Current enrollment at the main campus in Portales is 5,106 with 3,833 undergraduate and 1,273 graduate students. In Fall 2022 there were 50 students transferring from a branch to the main campus. In Fall 2022, 84% of undergraduate students at ENMU Portales are from New Mexico or Texas, with the remaining 16% representing 62 states/territories and 30 countries of origin.

Finance

In total, the ENMU system administers operating budgets in excess of $120 million. While the campuses are governed centrally, each is responsible for its own revenue streams which are not transferrable. Capital outlay funding for the main campus consists primarily of state allocations and private gifts. Capital outlay funding for the branch campuses consists of state allocations and locally authorized bonds. The ENMU Foundation has total assets of $25,000,000, and provides some $400,000 annually in scholarship support to ENMU students.

For many years the State of New Mexico has led the nation in its financial support for public higher education. Currently, public funding accounts for approximately 50% of ENMU Portales’s overall operating budget and 75% of the budgets of its branch campuses. Leadership is keenly aware that the state is not immune from the broad national trend of steadily declining allocations for public education and is taking steps to fortify and increase other revenue sources.

Leadership

Dr. James Johnston was appointed president of Eastern New Mexico University and chancellor of ENMU system in November of 2022 and started his tenure on January 3, 2023. He is the 12th president of ENMU and the 3rd chancellor of the ENMU System. Dr. Johnston came to ENMU with more than 20 years of administrative experience, having served in numerous leadership roles at other institutions throughout his career. He has a track record of success in leading enrollment growth, innovative programming, curricular offerings, and fundraising through traditional and innovative partnerships. As an administrator, he has dedicated his time, energy, and creativity to providing a supportive learning environment committed to student success.

Dr. Johnston earned his Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences and his Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences from Midwestern State University and his Ph.D. in Health Studies from Texas Woman's University.

To Apply:

Acceptance of inquiries, nominations, and applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search. Interested parties are encouraged to apply by October 18, 2023.

To apply online, go to: https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=su379

All applications and nominations will be held in confidence.

For more information:

Arasi Adkins

Senior Consultant

336-693-7612

aadkins@summitsearchsolutions.com

Eastern New Mexico University is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The University complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status in its programs, activities, or employment.