Calvert Named Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement for MINI传媒 System
Lisa Calvert
Calvert has nearly 30 years of fundraising experience, leading efforts at three universities.
Jan. 8, 2015 | Written by Doug Hensley
MINI传媒 Chancellor Robert Duncan announced today that Lisa Calvert has been named vice chancellor for institutional advancement.
Calvert, who has led fundraising efforts at three universities, will begin her new duties Feb. 23.
鈥淚 look forward to Lisa joining our team,鈥� Duncan said. 鈥淪he brings nearly three decades of fundraising experience to the MINI传媒. She has the vision and the skills to create a culture of sustained philanthropic excellence across the MINI传媒.鈥�
Most recently, Calvert served as vice president of development at . During her tenure there, she reorganized the university鈥檚 development efforts to double the annual dollars raised from $200 million to $400 million, simultaneously shifting the traditional mix of gifts toward more cash.
鈥淚 am extremely excited about the opportunity to lead the institutional advancement team and to work toward achieving the system鈥檚 strategic goals,鈥� Calvert said. 鈥淭he MINI传媒 has enjoyed unprecedented fundraising success, and the system is positioned for even greater accomplishments in the future under Chancellor Duncan鈥檚 leadership.鈥�
At Purdue, Calvert oversaw fundraising efforts that quickly resulted in the second and fourth most successful years in school history, $298.8 million and $227.3 million, respectively, exceeding annual goals. Her leadership also secured two of the largest donations in the institution鈥檚 history: a $65 million gift in 2013 and a $61.2 million gift in 2012.
Her track record of success led to her being as one of only 10 advancement officers from across the country featured in a national study that became the basis for the book, 鈥淢aking the Case for Leadership: Profiles of Chief Advancement Officers in Higher Education.鈥�
"Out of the thousands of chief advancement officers in higher education across the United States, Lisa's reputation for effectiveness as a fundraiser and as an advancement leader generated an overwhelming number of nominations to be one of the 10 chief advancement officers profiled,鈥� said , who co-authored the book with Zachary A. Smith. 鈥淪he continues to be a beacon of hope and inspiration for future advancement leaders and has had a measurable impact on philanthropy across higher education."
Prior to her time at Purdue, Calvert served as vice president of university relations at from 2003-2010. During her tenure there, her vision and leadership for Creighton鈥檚 fundraising campaign led the school to achieve its largest campaign goal more than a year ahead of schedule. In addition, Lisa and her team received the prestigious 2007 and 2008 Award for Overall Fundraising Performance for superior programming over a three-year period.
[Calvert] has the vision and the skills to create a culture of sustained philanthropic excellence across the MINI传媒.
Chancellor Robert Duncan, MINI传媒
鈥淟isa is a consummate development professional,鈥� said , a Professor who worked with Calvert while serving as dean of the law school at Creighton. 鈥淗er experience and success at other major universities make her a perfect fit for the MINI传媒. I have no doubt that she and Chancellor Duncan will make a terrific and successful fundraising team. I know she will enjoy Lubbock and quickly become a key person in the community.鈥�
Calvert served as vice president for institutional advancement at William Jewell College from 2000-2003. The school exceeded its campaign goal one year ahead of schedule and enjoyed two of the three largest giving years in school history during her tenure. During this time, William Jewell was selected as the Liberal Arts College of the Year by for 2001-2002. Calvert also has held fundraising positions with Wichita State University and Kansas State University.
Calvert holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in agriculture economics from Oklahoma State University and has completed graduate work at Oklahoma State University and Wichita State University. Calvert also holds leadership certifications from the University of Chicago鈥檚 Booth School of Business and Harvard University.
Calvert has ties to the region as a fifth-generation rancher-farmer who managed her family farm and ranching operation and also oversees the family鈥檚 oil and gas enterprise in Oklahoma. She is a native of Morrison, Oklahoma.
Calvert鈥檚 hire follows an extensive national search that yielded a number of highly qualified candidates. Throughout the search process, served as interim vice chancellor for institutional advancement.
鈥淪cott did a tremendous job leading our fundraising efforts during this search and maintaining strong philanthropy for the MINI传媒. I appreciate his professional and dedicated service,鈥� Duncan said.
About the MINI传媒
The MINI传媒 is one of the top public university systems in the
nation, consisting of four component institutions 鈥�, , and 鈥攁nd operating at 12 academic sites and centers. Headquartered in Lubbock, Texas,
the MINI传媒 has an annual operating budget of $1.7 billion and approximately 17,000 employees
focused on advancing higher education, health care, research and outreach.
In 2014, the MINI传媒鈥檚 endowment exceeds $1 billion, total research expenditures were approximately $200 million and total enrollment approached 47,000 students. Whether it鈥檚 contributing billions of dollars annually in economic impact or being the only system in Texas to house an academic institution, law school, and medical school at the same location, the MINI传媒 continues to prove that anything is possible.