Boston University Advancement

With a team of over 270 employees, Boston University’s Advancement division plays a vital role in fostering connections between the University and its community of supporters, including alumni, donors, parents, and friends, to elevate the university’s academic and research initiatives. We harness the power of philanthropy and engagement to make an excellent education accessible and welcoming to all, and to advance BU’s global leadership in research, scholarship, the arts, and professional practice. To support our work, we have built—and are continuing to build—an outstanding team of dynamic, mission driven advancement professionals who constantly strive to create an environment where everyone belongs.

Boston University Advancement has prioritized staff development and growth, recognizing that a skilled and motivated team is essential to its success. Through ongoing professional development opportunities, tailored training, mentorship programs, and a collaborative work environment, we foster continuous learning and career progression for our staff. This commitment to nurturing talent not only enhances our effectiveness but also ensures sustainable, long-term relationships that benefit the entire Boston University community.

Michele Schiele, Senior Vice President for Advancement

To lead our community, University President Melissa Gilliam has appointed Michele Schiele as Advancement’s new Senior Vice President. Michele is a proud Terrier, having graduated from the College of Communication with a degree in journalism. Most recently, she was deputy vice president and campaign director at Stanford University, where she secured more than $1.4B in annual philanthropic revenue, working with advancement professionals at all seven of the university’s schools, its multiple centers and institutes, and other administrative units. Before arriving at Stanford, Michele served in various roles at the University of Chicago, including interim vice president for university alumni relations and development and vice president and associate dean for development at the medical center.

Vice President, Schools and Colleges

Position description:

In July 2024, Melissa Gilliam became Boston University’s 11th president. Under her leadership, BU is creating a strategic platform that will inform and guide its bold vision for the future. In particular, BU is focusing on convergence - convergence across learning, research, and schools. These new collaborations, partnerships and transformational ideas will give way to new opportunities for philanthropists seeking to have an impact across the globe. In recognition of this important time, the Advancement office is creating a new role – Vice President for Schools and Colleges (VPCS).

The Vice President for Schools and Colleges will be responsible for ensuring that the faculty and administrative leaders across the schools are actively engaged in identifying philanthropic opportunities that leverage these areas of convergence. He/she will ensure that Deans, faculty leaders and staff have the tools they need to participate in the engagement across all of BU’s constituencies and in fund development. The VPSC will report to the SVP, Advancement, and partner with the Vice President, Principal Gifts, International and Foundation Relations (VPPIFF) and eventually the Campaign Director to realize BU’s strategic vision and philanthropic capacity.

The VPSC will oversee, lead and help develop the fundraising strategy for all 17 Schools and Colleges, and the Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences. The VPSC will also establish and manage relationships with the Deans and other faculty leaders. In addition to division strategy, the VPSC will be directly responsible for managing the leadership of the following Schools and Colleges: the Questrom School of Business, the Law School, the Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences, and College of Communication.

The VPSC will build and oversee a team that works directly with:

BU’s Health Sciences - including the Aram V. Chobanian and Edward Avedisian School of Medicine, the School of Public Health, Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, the Henry M. Goldman School of Dentistry, the School of Social Work - and the College of Engineering;

The School of Fine Arts, the Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University Academy, Boston University Hillel, WBUR, the College of General Studies, the School of Hospitality Administration, Metropolitan College, and the School of Theology.

BU’s 15 Institutes and Centers https://www.bu.edu/research/offices-contacts/university-wide-research-centers-institutes/.

The VPSC will provide strategic direction for the ongoing cultivation and direct solicitation of high-level university prospects and align all development and alumni relations activities with the strategic plan of Boston University.

In addition to these responsibilities, the VPSC will actively carry a portfolio of 20-25 leadership and principal gift prospects.

Essential Functions:

Establish a community of practice across the schools ie. monthly convenings with cohort to share information and receive feedback. The goal is to build relationships among the philanthropic leaders in these schools to share best practices and to ensure an equitable experience for alumni, donors and volunteers.

Planning and Management - Provide professional leadership for the 17 Schools and Colleges and all staff therein. This includes working closely with school deans and development officers to ensure productivity in cultivating, soliciting and closing gifts from the respective school’s top prospects, a high level of activity with the school advisory boards, and effective dean travel; help create and implement strategies to advance the overall fundraising goals of the schools.

Help create and implement specific and ongoing moves management plans for schools’ top prospects and provide strategic direction for development to the dean and development officers at the schools. Hold formal and informal meetings with respective school deans, development officers and other faculty and staff as necessary to ensure effective and efficient moves management.

Principal gifts and other fundraising - partner with VPPIF and Assistant Deans for the schools to ensure they are knowledgeable about new PG protocols and are engaging with the program
appropriately. Provide ongoing cultivation and direct solicitation of high-level university prospects. Manage, cultivate and solicit a portfolio of leadership and principal gift prospects and achieve fundraising targets.

Campaign - partner with Campaign Director to ensure all Schools understand their part in the campaign. Assist with the regular creation and preparation of presentations to the Board of Trustees and University Leadership.

Budget, Human Resources, and Operations - Manage budgets and personnel issues for all
reporting departments.

Required Skills

Qualifications and Experience:

• Proven record of helping Deans identify strategic priorities that align with the University strategic framework and then creating fundraising priorities. They will have the ability and collaborative acumen to develop and to execute strategy in partnership with the Senior Vice President, Provost’s Office, Deans, faculty and other important stakeholders. There must be especially close coordination/collaboration with Deans and Assistant/Associate Deans.
• An ability to conduct feasibility studies to ensure that fundraising priorities align with feasibility in the relevant schools.
• Ability to identify synergies and alignments across multiple priorities to avoid duplication.
• Proven record of working across schools to communicate and market fundraising priorities.
• Proven record of collaborating and partnering with Deans and faculty to help them understand and learn fundraising principles and processes.
• Experience working in a highly matrixed principal gift program with a track record of raising transformative gifts benefiting the institution’s vision.
• Significant senior fundraising experience, stellar oral and written communication skills.
• The successful candidate must also successfully manage up, down and across an organization, as well as individuals and teams. Leadership experience in an institution of considerable organizational complexity typified by matrix relationships of power and influence is critical.
• While leadership skills and experience are paramount, management experience –including personnel and budgetary management and substantial strength at managing through metrics and analysis – are required.
• The leadership attributes of intelligence, integrity, sound judgment, creativity, decisiveness, fairness, empathy, and a sense of humor are necessary for success.
• Ability to travel extensively, including international, work nights and weekends as required.

But that’s not all we’re looking for; we want someone who embodies our values:

• Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect , because we value every member’s contribution and know that leadership can come from anywhere.
• Diversity, equity, inclusion , and a commitment to ensuring that each of us knows we belong here.
• Integrity in how we work and how we treat one another.
• Strategic thinking and curiosity in the relentless pursuit of fresh approaches and measurable results.
• Continuous growth and improvement , both as individuals and as a team.
• Joy and shared appreciation for working hard toward goals that matter.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

If you require reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 617-358-1796

Required Experience

Qualifications and Experience:

• Proven record of helping Deans identify strategic priorities that align with the University strategic framework and then creating fundraising priorities. They will have the ability and collaborative acumen to develop and to execute strategy in partnership with the Senior Vice President, Provost’s Office, Deans, faculty and other important stakeholders. There must be especially close coordination/collaboration with Deans and Assistant/Associate Deans.
• An ability to conduct feasibility studies to ensure that fundraising priorities align with feasibility in the relevant schools.
• Ability to identify synergies and alignments across multiple priorities to avoid duplication.
• Proven record of working across schools to communicate and market fundraising priorities.
• Proven record of collaborating and partnering with Deans and faculty to help them understand and learn fundraising principles and processes.
• Experience working in a highly matrixed principal gift program with a track record of raising transformative gifts benefiting the institution’s vision.
• Significant senior fundraising experience, stellar oral and written communication skills.
• The successful candidate must also successfully manage up, down and across an organization, as well as individuals and teams. Leadership experience in an institution of considerable organizational complexity typified by matrix relationships of power and influence is critical.
• While leadership skills and experience are paramount, management experience –including personnel and budgetary management and substantial strength at managing through metrics and analysis – are required.
• The leadership attributes of intelligence, integrity, sound judgment, creativity, decisiveness, fairness, empathy, and a sense of humor are necessary for success.
• Ability to travel extensively, including international, work nights and weekends as required.

But that’s not all we’re looking for; we want someone who embodies our values:

• Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect , because we value every member’s contribution and know that leadership can come from anywhere.
• Diversity, equity, inclusion , and a commitment to ensuring that each of us knows we belong here.
• Integrity in how we work and how we treat one another.
• Strategic thinking and curiosity in the relentless pursuit of fresh approaches and measurable results.
• Continuous growth and improvement , both as individuals and as a team.
• Joy and shared appreciation for working hard toward goals that matter.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

If you require reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 617-358-1796