Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont President Tom Sullivan and UVM Foundation Chairman of the Board John A Hilton, Jr announced today that UVM Foundation President and CEO Rich Bundy will be leaving the UVM Foundation at the end of 2016 to become vice president for development and alumni relations at his alma mater, the Pennsylvania State University. To ensure a smooth transition, he will continue in this role through December. The UVM Foundation will conduct a robust national search to fill this important leadership position.
UVM Foundation President and CEO Rich Bundy. VBM photo.
Bundy, who joined the UVM Foundation’s leadership team in December 2010, serves as the inaugural president and CEO for the organization. Incorporated in 2011, the UVM Foundation has experienced six consecutive years of record-setting fundraising for the University of Vermont under his leadership, including the three largest gift commitments in UVM history, highlighted by last month’s announcement of the lifetime contributions and bequest giving totaling $100 million from Dr. Robert Larner, MD. Among the other signature accomplishments for the UVM Foundation team during Bundy’s tenure was the completion of the long-awaited Alumni House, a doubling of endowed faculty positions, and recognition of the UVM Foundation by Vermont Business Magazine as one of the best places to work in Vermont.
“The University of Vermont is deeply grateful for the unprecedented support we’ve received from the UVM community of alumni, family and friends and their significant investments in academics, research and infrastructure under Rich Bundy’s leadership,” said Tom Sullivan, president of the University of Vermont. “The unquestionable success of the UVM Foundation in helping to lead us to a place where we are ranked among the nation’s best public research universities is a testament not only to Rich Bundy’s leadership and vision, but also to every Foundation employee who on a daily basis seeks to move mountains for UVM.”
Launched publicly in October 2015, Move Mountains: The Campaign for The University of Vermont has raised more than $383 million of its $500 million goal to support four key areas: student financial access and affordability, faculty endowments, new and renovated facilities, and academic programs. The campaign will conclude in June 2019 and is currently more than a year-and-a-half ahead of the fundraising schedule established at its onset.
“Working closely with Rich, the first six years of the UVM Foundation have been consumed by our collective passion to sustain and grow UVM’s commitment to excellence,” said John A. Hilton, Jr. ‘68, chair of the UVM Foundation board of directors. “We understand and support Rich’s decision to return to work at his alma mater, and we appreciate the rock-solid leadership he has provided to our team, the board and the University. We will miss Rich, but we’re also positive that the UVM Foundation team will continue to lead us towards the University of Vermont’s bright future.”
Bundy has extensive experience in major gift fundraising for public higher education at four of the nation’s premier land grant institutions. Prior to the UVM Foundation, he served in leadership roles at the Iowa State University Foundation, Michigan State University and his alma mater Pennsylvania State University. A Pennsylvania native, Rich received his B.A. and M.A. from Penn State, earned his M.B.A. at Michigan State, and attended the Management Development Program at Harvard.
“Leaving the UVM Foundation is one of the most difficult professional decisions I’ve ever made in my life, in part because I’m so proud of everything that we’ve accomplished here as an organization,” noted Rich Bundy, president and CEO of the UVM Foundation. “Those who know me understand my long-held desire to return to Penn State, and leading the development and alumni relations team there is the only other position I would even consider over the UVM Foundation. I’m proud of and humbled by my time at the UVM Foundation, and I’m exceptionally confident in the team’s strength and ability to continue to be wildly successful moving mountains for the University of Vermont.”
Source: University of Vermont 10.24.2016