ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT Arlington, Texas THE SEARCH The (UT Arlington), seeks a collaborative, entrepreneurial, and dynamic individual to serve as its next associate vice president (AVP) of development. This is an exceptional opportunity for a strategic and experienced development professional to join an ascendant university on the verge of significant growth that will positively impact the lives of its students and the citizens of the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Reporting to the vice president of development, the associate vice president will lead and mentor development staff members, fostering a collaborative team culture; educate and engage all members of the UT Arlington community faculty, staff, key volunteers, senior administrators in the fundraising process; work in conjunction with development staff members and deans to formulate fundraising strategies for the individual colleges and units; set high standards and clear expectations; establish metrics for success; and personally identify, cultivate, and successfully solicit a select portfolio of prospects and donors capable of making significant contributions to the institution. The ideal candidate will possess at least seven years of successful and progressively responsible leadership of a mature development program, preferably in higher education; substantial, direct experience planning and managing a major fundraising campaign; and the intellectual depth, maturity and confidence to effectively engage key partners in the development process. In addition, this person must have exceptional interpersonal communication and relationship-building skills, strong analytic skills, and the energy, resilience and drive to achieve ambitious fundraising goals. UT Arlington has retained the services of Mr. Jack Gorman, of the executive search firm Isaacson, Miller, to conduct this important search. All inquiries, applications and nominations for this opportunity should be directed to the search firm as indicated at the end of this document. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM The University of Texas System is one of the nation s largest systems of higher education, with nine academic institutions and six health institutions that educate more than 214,000 students. The UT System has an annual operating budget of $15.6 billion (FY 2015) including $3 billion in sponsored programs funded by federal, state, local and private sources. With about 90,000 employees, the UT System is one of the largest employers in the state.
Each year, UT s academic institutions award more than one-third of all undergraduate degrees in Texas, and its health institutions grant two-thirds of all health professional degrees. In addition, UT System health professionals provide care to millions of patients each year, and UT System faculty and students are engaged in cutting-edge research and making significant discoveries that benefit society. Through the leadership of the chancellor, board of regents and UT presidents, student success and access are top priorities for The University of Texas System, and University of Texas institutions will continue to set the standard for excellence in higher education. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON The university was founded as a small, private college in 1895. It went through numerous iterations and names before its incorporation in 1967 into the University of Texas system. Today, UT Arlington is a growing research powerhouse committed to life-enhancing discovery, innovative instruction, and caring community engagement. An educational leader in the heart of the thriving North Texas region, UT Arlington nurtures minds within an environment that values excellence, ingenuity, and diversity. Guided by world-class faculty members, the university s more than 52,000 students in campusbased and online degree programs represent 120 countries and pursue more than 184 bachelor s, master s, and doctoral degrees in a broad range of disciplines. UT Arlington is dedicated to producing the lifelong learners and critical thinkers that the region and nation demand. More than 60 percent of the university s 190,000 alumni live in North Texas and contribute to an annual economic impact of $13.6 billion in the region. With 10,500 students living on or near campus, UT Arlington is a first-choice university for students seeking a vibrant college experience. In addition to receiving a first-rate education, UT Arlington students participate in a robust slate of co-curricular activities that prepare them to become the next generation of leaders. STRATEGIC PLAN 2020 BOLD SOLUTIONS, GLOBAL IMPACT The university is focused on being an internationally renowned institution of higher education and a preeminent place for intellectual pursuits. To fulfill this mission, UT Arlington is implementing its Strategic Plan 2020: Bold Solutions Global Impact. The plan will enable UT Arlington to become the intellectual heart of the community and a leader in the discovery, integration, and application of knowledge. With a focus on enabling a sustainable megacity, the strategic plan revolves around four core themes for academic and research excellence: Health and the Human Condition, Sustainable Urban Communities, Global Environmental Impact, and Data-Driven Discovery. The plan fosters the collaborative and cross-disciplinary thinking that our future demands. Additional information on the Strategic Plan 2020 can be accessed through the University s website: http://www.uta.edu/strategicplan/about/index.php. Academic Programs and Research Centers UT Arlington has expert faculty and dedicated resources backing 184 rigorous degree programs in 10 different schools and colleges. UT Arlington s faculty includes two National Academy of Engineering, one National Academy of Sciences, and 10 National Academy of Inventors Page 2 of 7
members. About 100 UT Arlington professors possess patents on various devices, processes, or technologies. UT Arlington has research centers in every discipline and their efforts have earned them the classification as a Research University/High Research Activity according to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Total funding for research reached a record $77.7 million in 2013. The Chronicle of Higher Education 2014 Almanac lists UT Arlington as one of the 20 fastest-growing public research universities in the nation, based on enrollment between 2002 and 2012. Campus and Facilities The UT Arlington campus spans 420 acres and includes more than 100 buildings, some dating from 1919. In recent years, campus construction projects totaling almost $300 million have buoyed development in downtown Arlington. Students and faculty work at some of the most advanced learning environments in Texas, including the clean room in the Nanofab lab, the kilns in UT Arlington s glass-blowing studios, the neonatal intensive care unit in the Smart Hospital for simulation education, and the advanced materials and structures lab in the College of Engineering. New, state-of-the-art facilities like the Shimadzu Institute for Research Technologies and the UT Arlington Research Institute are expanding the University s reach as it adds programs and increases its national and international impact. Students Students hail from all 50 states and more than 120 countries. In fall 2014 there were 81 bachelor s degrees offered, 72 master s and 31 doctoral. That same year, enrollment of students living in Texas stood at 34,870 (25,736 undergraduate and 9,134 graduate). Total enrollment of all students in campus-based and online degree programs combined is more than 52,000. The study body at UT Arlington is one of the most diverse student groups in the nation 27 percent of the student body is Hispanic, 17 percent African American, 12 percent Asian, and 12 percent international. U.S. News & World Report ranks UT Arlington 5 th among national universities for undergraduate diversity and UT Arlington is one of the 50 most popular U.S. colleges and universities for international students based on data from the Institute of International Education s 2013 Open Doors Report. With more than 300 campus organizations, more than 10,500 students living on or adjacent to campus, and a constant flow of speakers, entertainers, and musicians visiting year-round, UT Arlington has an unstoppable energy. Students, faculty, and staff put that energy to work doing service projects, contributing about 680,000 volunteer hours annually through programs like the Big Event and other activities. UT Arlington competes in NCAA Division I athletics in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Arlington, Texas and the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex Arlington, Texas, is one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation. Located equidistant between Dallas and Fort Worth in north Texas, the city is home to more than 380,000 residents, making it the seventh-largest in the state. It s also the hometown of two professional sports teams, the Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboys. Residents, athletes, and visitors alike enjoy warm summers and mild winters, and fill their days with good food, good company, and good entertainment. Page 3 of 7
They are also frequent visitors to other cities in the DFW Metroplex. The area is one of the largest urban centers in the country, with more than 6 million residents. The Metroplex offers a plethora of must-see attractions, including amusement parks, arts and culture museums, historical sights, and natural wonders. The economy of DFW is growing rapidly, with the employment rate 50% higher than the national average. More than twenty Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in the DFW Metroplex. FINANCES AND FUNDRAISING Private philanthropic support at UT Arlington is growing exponentially. Over the past two years, the University averaged $25 million per year in gifts and pledges. Building upon recent success, UT Arlington now seeks to double annual contributions in the next two to three years. UT Arlington has invested generously in its infrastructure, its technology support and analytics systems, and its staffing. The associate vice president will assist in strengthening the fundraising program to achieve that growth and will contribute to implementing the necessary framework to support the university s major fundraising initiatives and comprehensive campaign. LEADERSHIP Vistasp M. Karbhari, President Vistasp M. Karbhari took office in June 2013 as the eighth president of the University of Texas at Arlington. He is a professor in the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering and the department of civil engineering. As president, he is committed to advancing UT Arlington s national and international profile while strengthening excellence in research and teaching, and ensuring the success of the university s 52,000 students in campus-based and online degree programs in Texas and around the world. Prior to joining UT Arlington, President Karbhari served at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (2008-2013), the University of California San Diego (1995-2008) and the University of Delaware (1991-1995). A prolific researcher, President Karbhari is an expert in the processing and mechanics of composites, durability of materials, infrastructure rehabilitation, and multithreat mitigation. He has authored or co-authored more than 460 papers in journals and conference proceedings and edited or co-edited six books. President Karbhari holds one patent and has served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on more than $37 million in research projects. He is a fellow of several pre-eminent research organizations, including the National Academy of Inventors; ASM International, formerly the American Society for Metals; the International Institute for Fiber-reinforced Polymers in Construction; the International Society for Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure; and the American Society of Civil Engineers and the ASCE s Structural Engineering Institute. President Karbhari earned a bachelor s degree in civil engineering and a master s degree with a specialization in structures, both from the University of Poona in India, and a Ph.D. with a dissertation in composite materials from the University of Delaware. During his more than 20 years in higher education, he has received numerous awards for research, teaching, and innovation. Page 4 of 7
Michael K. Kingan, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Michael Kingan joined UT Arlington as vice president for development and alumni relations in February 2015. He brings a breadth of experience to the university, having served in leadership positions at the University of New Mexico, the University of Iowa, the University of Washington School of Law and the University of Michigan Law School. Most recently, Mr. Kingan served as chief advancement officer for the Singapore American School, which is regarded as one of the world's finest international schools serving students in pre-school through grade 12. At UT Arlington, Mr. Kingan leads the university s comprehensive fundraising and alumni relations efforts to engage UT Arlington s more than 190,000 alumni. He works closely with President Karbhari, faculty, staff, alumni and other stakeholders to support the university s strategic vision and to firmly establish UT Arlington as a pre-eminent, urban research university with global impact. Mr. Kingan earned his undergraduate degree in political science from Austin College in Sherman and his master of public affairs degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He served as an instructor in the Overseas Service Corps of the YMCA in Keelung, Taiwan before embarking on his distinguished career in philanthropy and advancement. He has prepared and successfully launched comprehensive fundraising campaigns throughout his career and has expertise in identifying fundraising priorities, collaborating with senior university leadership and leading teams toward substantial growth in institutional support. ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT The AVP will report directly to the vice president for development and alumni relations and serve on his senior leadership team. In collaboration with the vice president, the AVP will lead and manage approximately 25 staff. Direct reports to the AVP include the senior director of gift planning; the senior director of development; the director of prospect coordination and research; the director of development for libraries and student success; and the director of university initiatives. Duties and Responsibilities Serve as a core member of the development and alumni relations leadership team. Foster collaboration within development and alumni relations and across campus. Effectively represent UT Arlington to a wide range of external constituencies and stakeholders. Translate the university s mission and vice president s vision for development into real and applicable goals for the schools, colleges and units within the university. Serves as the primary staff executive, reporting to the vice president for development, for development operations. Directs all preparation and operations for campaigns or focused funding initiatives. Manage, recruit and mentor a staff of professional and administrative support staff that is well prepared to meet the ongoing challenges and aspirations of the university; set high standards and clear expectations for success. Page 5 of 7
Implement best practices, utilizing clear, measurable performance metrics and creating a culture of accountability. Provide meaningful opportunities for professional growth and development. Personally cultivate and manage a select portfolio of major gift prospects with the capacity to make commitments at the six- and seven-figure levels. Ensure unified, coordinated donor outreach among all fundraising partners to optimize fundraising productivity and further key institution-wide and interdisciplinary priorities. In partnership with the senior director of gift planning, develop a strategic framework to deepen relationships with existing planned giving donors and systematically identify, cultivate and solicit new planned giving prospects. Qualifications and Experience A deep appreciation of and passion for the mission and aspirations of UT Arlington as well as the ability to articulate its uniqueness, importance, and relevance to all constituencies. At least seven years of progressively-responsible fundraising and management experience, preferably in higher education. An approach to management that brings out the best in staff and yields pride, ownership and a sense of team effort. A keen eye for operational efficiency and optimal use of resources. Significant experience planning and executing a successful comprehensive fundraising campaign. Demonstrated personal success in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and principal individual and institutional donors; the ability to inspire philanthropic support from high net-worth individuals, corporations, and major foundations. The intellectual depth, maturity, and confidence required to effectively engage and garner the trust of the president, vice president, deans, faculty members, senior staff, and key volunteers in the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of top prospects. Superior listener; clear, crisp and compelling written and verbal communication skills; effective, charismatic, and inspiring presenter. Honesty, enthusiasm, and perspective; a strong work ethic, exceptional organization, and superb follow-through. A sense of humor, a humble approach, and a level of comfort with ambiguity; an outgoing and positive personality. Ability to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed to meet donors or otherwise represent the university. Page 6 of 7
Bachelor s degree from an accredited college or university. TO APPLY Jack Gorman is leading this search with Rachel Ellenport and Becky Wei. For more information, to submit a nomination, or to apply for this role, please visit www.imsearch.com/5488. As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, it is the policy of The to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity for all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status. Page 7 of 7