Vice President for University Advancement

Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) invites nominations and applications for the position of Vice President for University Advancement (VPUA). This exceptional leader will play a vital role in shaping the future of MSOE, increasing a culture of philanthropy, and building a collaborative team that drives strategic growth in fund development and alumni engagement. The Vice President for University Advancement will serve as a key member of the President's Leadership Team, working closely with MSOE's sixth president, Dr. Eric Baumgartner, to advance the university's mission and vision.

The VPUA will be charged with elevating fund development, alumni and donor engagement, as well as corporate and foundation relations. This role will oversee strategic programs that shape the university’s reputation, drive philanthropic growth, and strengthen external relations. With oversight of significant human, financial and operational resources, the VPUA will provide leadership with a long-term vision for ensuring university resources and alumni engagement closely aligns with MSOE’s strategic plan and institutional priorities.

The VPUA will ensure the success of the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, Next Bold Step: The Campaign to Accelerate Innovation, which launched on March 3, 2025. The comprehensive campaign’s goal is to raise $125 million, with $91 million raised to date, and with $63 million already secured toward the $76.5 million goal designated for the Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center. Leading up to the public announcement of the Next Bold Step campaign, MSOE has benefited from the incredible generosity of its donors including raising $22.4M from 2,749 donors in fiscal year 2022-23, $32.1M from 3,009 donors in fiscal year 2023-24, and $39.6M from 3,800 donors in fiscal year 2024-25. Prior to the start of the Next Bold Step campaign, MSOE invested more than $100M in new construction and capital projects on campus with more than $91M of support for these projects coming from philanthropy.

LEADERSHIP

MSOE recently announced a leadership transition that will take place on January 1, 2026. MSOE’s fifth president, Dr. John Walz, will transition into the role of President Emeritus while Dr. Baumgartner will become MSOE’s sixth president after serving for more than eight years as MSOE’s Executive Vice President of Academics. In his role as President Emeritus, Dr. Walz will continue to support the Next Bold Step campaign prior to his retirement in July 2027.Under Dr. Baumgartner’s leadership, MSOE has accomplished numerous strategic academic initiatives including MSOE’s conversion from a century-old, quarter-based academic calendar to a semester-based model as well as the development of undergraduate and graduate programs focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Dr. Baumgartner contributed to the design of new academic spaces such as those within the Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall, Hermann Viets Tower, and the soon-to-be-built Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center. He also created the opportunity to broaden MSOE’s academic offerings in the health professions in collaboration with the Medical College of Wisconsin, supported the launch of engineering and computing explorer pathways for undecided students, supported the formulation of the MSOE Mindset and the integration of this mindset into program courses and curricula, and created a focus on data-informed decision making by providing transparent access to data through numerous institutional dashboards.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

MSOE seeks an experienced, engaging, and dynamic advancement leader with a proven track record in development, donor stewardship, and alumni/donor engagement to serve as its next Vice President of University Advancement. The VPUA will build strong relationships with donors, alumni, friends of the university, corporate partners, and community leaders. The VPUA is the chief fundraising strategist and supports the President and other campus leaders in the cultivation and stewardship of stakeholders. The VPUA engages with MSOE’s governance board, the Board of Regents, primarily through the board’s Advancement Committee as well as the Corporation Board which consists of corporate and industry leaders who provide advice and guidance to the institution. The VPUA will support a culture of collaboration and cooperation by engaging with those members of the university’s faculty and staff who maintain strong alumni and corporate relationships.

The Vice President for University Advancement will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive and innovative advancement strategy, while creatively leveraging development tools and best practices to engage alumni, friends, and corporate partners. In partnership with the President, the VPUA will provide guidance on development and alumni relations, while also serving as a champion for MSOE's unique mission and values.

The ideal candidate will possess significant experience with fund development and an understanding of academic institutions, as well as prior experience with managing major campaigns, programs for annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation giving, and other initiatives. A proven track record of successful fundraising, combined with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, will be essential in building productive relationships across all stakeholders. The Vice President for University Advancement will be a mission-driven leader committed to providing resources for transformative educational experiences for students, and a passion for telling the impactful stories of the MSOE community.

ABOUT MILWAUKEE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Milwaukee School of Engineering is an independent, non-profit university with nearly 3,000 students that was founded in 1903. MSOE offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a number of engineering disciplines as well as computer science, actuarial science, nursing, business, user experience, and construction management. Faculty are student-focused experts who bring real-world experience into the classroom. Longstanding partnerships with business and industry leaders enable students to learn alongside professional mentors who challenge them to go beyond what’s possible.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

For best consideration, please submit materials as soon as possible. The requested application materials, listed below, should be submitted using the DSG’s candidate portal.1) a letter of interest that addresses the responsibilities of the position2) a resume or curriculum vitae 

To provide nominations or to request additional information, please contact: [email protected].