Purdue News
Purdue News
|
|
March 30, 2001 Purdue banks on Iowa State exec for its new advancement officeWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Murray Blackwelder, vice president for external affairs at Iowa State University, will be the new senior vice president for advancement at Purdue University, effective July 1.
"This appointment is an important key to Purdue's future," said President Martin C. Jischke. "Murray will oversee our efforts to tell the Purdue story and seek the private financial support Purdue needs to become an even greater university." Blackwelder will oversee the recently reorganized advancement area at Purdue, which includes the Office of Development, the Office of University Relations and the university's radio stations, WBAA-AM and FM. He also will serve as the primary liaison to the Purdue Alumni Association. His appointment is subject to the approval of the Purdue Board of Trustees, which meets Friday (4/6). Blackwelder was among the candidates identified nationwide by Korn/Ferry International, a nationally recognized executive search firm. An advisory board of 17 faculty, staff, students and alumni recommended Blackwelder from that pool, and he met with people on campus last week. Blackwelder said he was impressed by what he saw. "I have always been aware of Purdue's reputation, but I was especially struck by the quality of the faculty and staff I met," Blackwelder said. "Mix that with the dedication of Boilermaker alumni and my respect for Dr. Jischke's leadership, and it created a job that was extremely attractive to me." Blackwelder, who worked with Jischke at Iowa State for the past nine years, served there in several fund-raising and administrative roles. He currently oversees the offices of university relations, marketing, radio stations, intercollegiate athletics, conference services, museums, Iowa State Center, the alumni association and the 14-acre Reiman Gardens, which includes a learning center. He also oversees the Iowa State Foundation, which is responsible for the university's fund-raising efforts. ISU last year completed a five-year fund drive that raised $458 million. Of Purdue's more than $1 billion operating budget, almost $90 million came from private contributions last fiscal year, which ended June 30. So far this year, more than $117 million has been raised. Alumni and friends account for about 70 percent of the private giving to Purdue, with corporations and foundations making up most of the rest. Purdue's last major fund drive, which ended six years ago, raised $332 million. Blackwelder also held fund-raising management positions at Wichita State University in Kansas and Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Mo., where he also served briefly as director of university relations. He began his university administrative career at Baker University in Baldwin, Kan., where he was director of alumni affairs and parents' activities. Blackwelder, a native of Augusta, Kan., earned his bachelor's degree in business administration at Baker University in 1969 and his master's of public administration, with a major in policy and planning, at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1975. Sources: Martin C. Jischke, (765) 494-9708 Murray Blackwelder, (515) 294-8823 Writer: Jeanne V. Norberg; (765) 494-2084; jnorberg@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
|
