Office of University Communications 

Dunn named vice president for university advancement

SPRINGFIELD —Twenty-two year fund-raising veteran Brent Dunn has been named the new vice president for university advancement at Missouri State University and executive director of the Missouri State Foundation. He will begin his duties Aug. 1.

Dunn was selected following a national search, which resulted in three finalists being invited to campus for interviews. Dunn replaces Greg Onstot, who retired early in 2007 after 25 years at Missouri State. Dr. Don Aripoli, vice president for student affairs, had been serving in an interim role for the past six months. Dunn’s appointment will be taken to the next Board of Governors meeting, Aug. 3, for formal approval.

“The keys to being successful in development are 1) believing in your product – in this case the university – and 2) cultivating and maintaining relationships,” said Missouri State President Michael T. Nietzel. “In the opinions of the search committee, others who participated in the search, and me, Brent excels in these two areas. He will be an excellent leader for our advancement staff and the Missouri State Foundation.”

Dunn will be paid $112,500, with a car allowance, a country club membership and a membership to The Tower Club.

University advancement includes the fund-raising functions in the office of development; the activities of the office of alumni relations; and staffing responsibilities for the Missouri State University Foundation. In 2005-06, the Foundation received a record $11.8 million in gifts and pledges. Its endowment now stands at more than $55 million.

“We have ambitious goals,” said W. Wayne Bischler, president of the Missouri State Foundation, “including another major campaign in the very near future. The Foundation Board of Directors and I have confidence that Brent can lead us where we want to go. We are excited to have him on board.”

During his 22 years at Missouri State, Dunn has led fund-raising efforts for academic units, special programs and facilities.

Dunn, a Springfield native, joined the Missouri State development staff in 1985 as director of annual giving, a role he held until 1989. As director of annual giving, he managed direct mail programs, managed and directed the volunteer telemarketing campaigns, and developed annual giving programs for academics and athletics.

From 1989-95, he was associate director of development/director of annual giving. In that role, he managed and directed all annual giving programs, developed the annual giving program for Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, conducted solicitations for potential members of The Founders Club, and developed the “paid-student” telemarketing program.

Since 1995, he has been the director of athletics development/assistant director of athletics, where he has managed and directed the $1.7 million Bears Fund program for athletics, organized and directed special events, such as the Auction Benefiting Athletics, and prepared and conducted major gift solicitations.

Dunn is active in the community, having served in a number of roles with a variety of organizations. He currently is chairman of annual giving for Rotary District 6080, a member of the Central High School A+ Advisory Board, on the Springfield Sports Commission, chairman of the Southeast-K-Park Committee for Rotary Club of Springfield, and chairman of the financial development committee at Wesley United Methodist Church.

Dunn received his B.S. degree in sociology in 1985 and his M.A. degree in communication in 1991, both from Missouri State.

“I am a lifelong resident of Springfield and a lifelong admirer of Missouri State University,” said Dunn. “This is a great opportunity to help the university I love prepare for and be successful in the future. I am both humbled by and excited about this opportunity.”

 

Note: A high resolution image of Brent Dunn is available online.