VP candidates named

CSU named three candidates for the position of vice president

for Development and University Relations, which promises to play an

important role in the university’s budget struggles.

The candidates are Mary Anna Dunn, Daniel Peterson and Daniel

Hendricks.

The vice president position will handle fundraising and

communications for the university. The position – formerly known as

vice president for University Advancement – was held by Stan

Schmid, who retired in October.

“This position is vital because we have entered an entirely new

era with new leadership across the board. We have identified this

as one of our greatest strategic needs,” said Jesse Lauchner,

Associated Students of CSU president and a member of the vice

presidential search committee.

The candidates will meet the university community at a series of

open forums in the ASCSU Senate Chambers in the Lory Student

Center. The forums will take place from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Dunn’s

session was Tuesday. Peterson’s will be today. Hendricks session

will be held Dec. 11.

“As you look to the future of CSU, the ability to continue to

become a great university relies on our ability to raise funds.

This position is going to be integral in that process,” said Tom

Milligan, CSU spokesperson and member of the vice presidential

search committee.

The new vice president will be charged with aggressively seeking

out private donations, such as last year’s $20.1 million Bohemian

Foundation Grant to make up for the cuts in state funding to

CSU.

The vice president will play a critical role in finding new

sources of funding for CSU. The university recently weathered a $34

million cut in state funding, and state budget analysts have warned

of more cuts in the near future.

Lauchner said the new vice president would look for money that

promotes “program excellence” across the university. However, these

kinds of private donations are not the kind of funds that “keep the

lights on,” Lauchner said.

The new vice president will also manage Marketing, Publications

and Printing, and Advancement Services. The vice president will be

a member of CSU President Larry Penley’s cabinet and of the

Executive Budget Committee.

Dunn was senior vice president for development from 1992-2002

for the University of Colorado Foundation. She is now the executive

vice president of the same foundation. She has bachelor’s degree in

English teaching from Northwestern University, and a master’s in

English literature from CU.

Peterson is senior vice president at the Washington State

University Foundation. He got his bachelor’s degree in history at

Washington State University and a juris doctorate from the Seattle

University College of Law.

Hendricks is vice president and chief development officer for

the Louisiana State University Foundation. Hendricks received a

bachelor’s degree from Depauw University and a master’s and

doctorate from Duke.