The search for a vice president of advancement continues as University administrators and faculty held a question session with a candidate for the chief fundraising position Thursday.
Ten faculty members and administrators gathered in the faculty senate chamber for an open session with Richard Neal and expressed concerns about the need to raise money for The U of M.
"This is a learning experience for me being on a university campus," Neal said.
Neal, whose only higher education experience was as advancement and development vice president position at Crichton College, has extensive experience in development with non-profits and private businesses.The open session for faculty, students and staff began with Neal asking the group, "What are you looking for in a vice president of advancement?"
Someone who has a proven track record of generating dollars, said Edwina Washington, assistant vice president of business and finance.Robert Bartlett formerly held the position, which oversees all of the marketing, fundraising, development and communications departments. Bartlett was appointed to the position in July 2003 and resigned on June 30, 2004.
On the second day of his U of M visit, Neal told administrators, "My task is to enable you to do what you do."
Edwina Washington said development and fundraising for The U of M Millington Center was a specific concern for her department.
"We need to partner the business and finance business development department with people in advancement to take the Millington Center to the next level," Washington said.
As The University of Memphis continues to move from being a state-funded school to what is now a state-aided institution, raising outside funds is of increasing importance.
Neal said that creative fundraising has been successful for him in the past.
"It's not about our needs," he said. "It's about the needs of the donor."
Having lived in Memphis for 17 years, Neal said that he has worked with and knows about half of The U of M board of visitors.
Answering a question about creative ways to improve alumni relationships, Neal suggested a nine-month mentor program partnering top students in each department with successful graduates in the Memphis community.
"This would create a relationship between the brightest students and the brightest people in Memphis," Neal said.
Emphasis on the communications aspect of the job prompted Neal to ask administrators, "Who are our customers?"
"Are our customers our students, our donors or our alumni?" Neal said. "Is this University known as an athletic school or an academic school?"
He told the group Thursday that he saw a change happening at The U of M with the growth of the hospitality school, FedEx Institute and library.
"We need to change focus to the quality of the product that we produce," Neal said. "Our product is a graduating student."
