Susan K. Feagin

Susan K. Feagin, vice president for development at the University of Michigan and former director of university development for Harvard University, has been named Columbia's new vice president for development and alumni relations by President-designate Lee C. Bollinger. She will assume her new position on July 1, 2002.

Feagin, who received a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from Columbia's School of General Studies in 1974, led Michigan to its two most successful fundraising years ever. Before she joined the staff at Michigan, she was responsible for overseeing a $2.1-billion fund-raising effort at Harvard, one of the most successful campaigns in the history of higher education.

Feagin succeeds Richard Naum, who recently announced his intention to retire.

"Susan Feagin is the best at what she does," said Bollinger. "She also is a person of great dedication to Columbia and an extraordinarily good person to work with. I am delighted that she is returning."

"I am proud to be returning to my alma mater," said Feagin. "To be asked to take a leadership role at this moment in my career and to do so at Lee Bollinger's side is a very special and unexpected opportunity to serve the University again. I look forward to working with the University-wide community, including the Trustees, alumni and friends, to accomplish the academic goals that the president, provost, deans and faculty identify for Columbia."

Feagin, who has maintained a link to Columbia by serving for eight years on the General Studies' Advisory Council, began her fundraising career here 28 years ago. In 1975 she joined Harvard's Development Office, where her responsibilities included serving as assistant director of major gifts for The Harvard Campaign to raise $350 million, and building a development campaign for Harvard's Center for Italian Renaissance Studies in Florence, Italy.

She returned to Columbia in 1982 to become campaign director for Arts and Sciences and then, in 1986, executive director of the Campaign for Arts and Sciences and Professional Schools during a five-year drive that raised $500 million for the University.

In 1987, Feagin moved back to Harvard to become associate director of university development for planning and external relations, and, in 1990, she was named associate dean for development for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, composed of Harvard College and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. She was named director of university development in 1996 to lead Harvard's multi-billion-dollar campaign, and she served in that capacity until she accepted a vice presidency at Michigan in 1998.

Under Feagin's leadership, Michigan raised $230.6 million in FY 2000 and $218 million in FY 2001, which were both substantial increases over the previous record for annual fundraising of $179.5 million set in FY1998, prior to Feagin's tenure at Michigan.

She is married to John J. Brown Jr., the founder and president of John Brown Ltd., a training and consulting firm that works with non-profit organizations in building major gifts and planned giving programs.

Lee C. Bollinger left the presidency of the University of Michigan to become the 19th president of Columbia. He will succeed George Rupp, who will step down from his post in the summer of 2002 after serving as the University's president since 1993.