With plans to relocate downtown, the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law hopes their new development director will help make the transition easier.
Alleen D. Deutsch has been hired to help improve the percentage of law school graduates who donate annually to the law school, and to raise the total dollar amount contributed.
"We have been looking for the right person for the past two years," said James R. Smoot, dean and professor of law. "We wanted someone with experience in fund-raising and experience in a law school," he said. "We have to raise a lot of money in order to acquire the new building, and it was clear from the very first interview that she was the best choice."
Deutsch previously served as the director of development and alumni relations at Georgia State University College of Law. She obtained her B.A. from Bowling Green State University and her M.S. and Ph.D. from Miami University.
"I am thrilled to be here," she said. "I am enjoying The University of Memphis, the law school and the city of Memphis."
Deutsch said she was drawn to The U of M by the opportunity and challenge of establishing and increasing the development program for private support to the law school.
"I am excited to be part of the planning for an anticipated capital campaign for a new law building," she said.
The University has plans to move the law school downtown into the customs building on Madison and Front by the fall of 2009.
Deutsch said the current building is inadequate in terms of space.
When the move happens in 2009, other departments will then use the current building for various classes.
"The law school has never had a development director with the experience and background needed to help build the program," Deutsch said. "The University is just now beginning its developmental efforts and I am working cooperatively with other college and department developers in order to put the components together. But right now my main focus is the law school."
Deutsch plans to mount a campaign that will focus on personal visits with law graduates to encourage and seek annual gifts.
"I have a record for being able to raise a program from small dollars to big dollars," Deutsch said. "I know how to build and sustain a relationship that focuses on the donor and how to work with a team that follows through and follows up in order to reach a goal."
Deutsch said her first impression upon arriving at The U of M was the amount of enthusiasm the law school had for the project and hiring the right person for development.
"I would just like to say that it is great to have a full-time development director as we work towards securing a new facility," said Barbara Kritchevsky, associate dean and professor of law.
