FOR MORE INFORMATION

CONTACT: Sharon Jones Schweitzer

sjones@trinity.edu

July 7, 2006

Trinity University Announces Promotions in Advancement

SAN ANTONIO –- Three members of Trinity University’s Advancement team, Susan Baker, Rick Roberts, and Kathy McNeill have assumed new leadership roles in advancing the University with its alumni and other benefactors.

Susan Baker, Trinity’s corporate and foundations relations officer, has been promoted to capital campaign coordinator and assistant to the vice president for advancement. She will work closely with Trinity President John R. Brazil and Marc Raney, vice president for advancement, on donor contact and issues related to Dream. Inspire. Achieve. The Campaign for Trinity University, the University’s 200-million capital campaign drive. Ms. Baker will continue to direct the University’s corporate and foundations relations program and will also provide leadership to the division budget, planning, and assessment process.

Bringing 25 years experience in nonprofit leadership and development, Ms. Baker joined the advancement staff in August 2005. Previously she served as director of philanthropy at The Nature Conservancy in Montpelier, Vt. She has also served as the director of development for Community Partners in Houston, the University of Texas Health Science Center, and the Association of Rice Alumni in Houston. Ms. Baker received a bachelor’s degree in history from Rice University and earned a master’s in geography from the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vt.

Rick Roberts has been promoted to director of major gifts, a newly created office responsible for building

and maintaining successful major gifts portfolios, cultivating relationships with key constituencies, and assisting with the capital campaign. Mr. Roberts is working with campus and alumni leaders to cultivate, solicit, and steward major and planned gifts to the University. Members of the newly created department include three major gift officers, a grant writer, and a prospect research coordinator. A member of the advancement staff since 1992, he has also held the positions of development officer, assistant director of development, and associate director of University Advancement.

Before coming to Trinity, Mr. Roberts served as acting director of annual giving and as a development officer at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, N.M.  He earned a B.B.A in finance with a minor in economics and a master’s degree in higher education administration from New Mexico State University.

Kathy McNeill is the new director of development programs and advancement services. She will be  responsible for Trinity’s annual giving programs including the Trinity Associates and Business Affiliates programs, alumni and parent giving, and the year-round national phonathon and management of the alumni/donor record database. She came to Trinity in 2002 as a development officer and was promoted to major gifts officer in 2004.

Previously Ms. McNeill was a development officer with the SAMMinistries and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, with a Bachelor of Arts in communications, public relations, and advertising. 

Launched on September 22, 2005, Dream. Inspire. Achieve. The Campaign for Trinity University, with a $200 million goal, is the most important and challenging advancement initiative in Trinity’s 136 year history. A majority of the campaign funds will be directed toward scholarship and financial aid, so Trinity can continue to recruit the best and brightest students, regardless of their financial circumstances. In addition, the campaign will support innovative new academic programs, create additional faculty positions, and provide current faculty with opportunities for research and scholarship. Campaign gifts will also finance enhancements to Trinity’s technology infrastructure, laboratories, athletic and recreation programs and facilities, and residence halls.

Trinity University is a nationally recognized liberal arts and sciences institution noted for its exceptional faculty and commitment to the comprehensive preparation of its talented student body.  It is a learning community that has charted its course with a steadfast commitment to excellence since it was founded in 1869.

--30--

© 2006 Trinity University