Dear Members of the Campus Community,
As part of our new strategic vision for the college, we will be reimagining our approach to philanthropy and engagement with our extended Holy Cross community. A big-picture, visionary strategy for our work in advancement will mean a stronger, healthier foundation for the college in the decades to come.
To that end, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Sean Scanlon, an innovative and entrepreneurial fundraising leader, as our new vice president for advancement.
Sean will join us from Syracuse University, where he helped to launch and lead the university’s $1.5 billion “Forever Orange” campaign. As a senior leader, Sean was responsible for culture change and management of Syracuse’s central fundraising programs including philanthropic engagement, gift planning, family and parent giving, corporate and foundation relations, athletics, veterans, Hendricks Chapel and regional major gifts. In partnership with senior leaders, faculty, and volunteers, Syracuse Advancement more than doubled fundraising production during this time.
Prior to Syracuse, Sean led alumni affairs and development at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management after having led the “Discover” Campaign at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. He holds a B.A. in history and theology from the University of Notre Dame and an M.A. from the University of Illinois, Champaign Urbana.
The search committee was impressed by Sean’s strategic thinking, creative problem solving, and ability to lead through change and empower those who work for him. His data-driven approach to fundraising allowed his teams to develop new strategies that engaged the university community and drove results.
In recent years, our advancement team has successfully completed multiple transformative fundraising campaigns and continued to foster a connection between the college and our alumni that is second to none. I am confident that they will reach even higher heights under Sean’s leadership.
Sean will begin his work with us in mid-April. I know you will join me in welcoming him, his wife Lisa and their children Nicholas and Sophie to our Holy Cross community.
Sincerely,
Vince Rougeau
President