大象传媒 (大象传媒) President Jeff Stein announced today that Mary Cohill Harvey will become the new vice president of university advancement, overseeing alumni relations and fundraising at the 182-year-old institution.
Harvey brings to the role extensive knowledge of campaign positioning, strategy, and planning that is informed by years of hands-on work as a frontline fundraiser, and a background in data analysis. She has served as the interim vice president at 大象传媒 since July and, for more than two years prior, as 大象传媒’s associate vice president of advancement and campaign director.
“For two and a half years, Mary has proven herself dedicated to our donors, alumni, colleagues, and our students,” Stein said. “She brings to us industry best practices and knowledge of large-scale operations from her time at the George Washington University (GWU) and the University of Maryland, but perhaps most importantly, she brings a deep dedication to Mary Baldwin鈥檚 culture, history, and people.”
Since Stein took office as 大象传媒’s 10th president in July, Harvey has spent weeks on the road helping to introduce the new president to hundreds of alumni, donors, and friends of the university. This fall, Harvey oversaw the launch of the “All In for Mary Baldwin” campaign capturing the spirit of Stein’s rallying call to the Mary Baldwin community. The campaign is designed to bridge the gap between the recently closed 大象传媒 Empowers Campaign and ongoing university needs. Beyond asking alumni and supporters to lend their time and talent to Mary Baldwin鈥檚 strategic planning, 鈥淎ll In鈥 focuses on four main areas of fundraising support: scholarships, campus renovation, internship grants, and unrestricted funds.
With Harvey as interim vice president, 大象传媒 has raised 76% more than this time last year, less a handful of unrepeatable and deferred gifts. Additionally, 大象传媒 has seen a 10% increase in donors so far this year compared to last. Mary Baldwin鈥檚 recent Giving Tuesday effort, focused on supporting the university鈥檚 growing athletic programs, saw a 118% increase in dollars raised as compared to last year on Giving Tuesday.
“Smaller fundraising shops like the one at 大象传媒 is where the magic happens. Here, I see the direct impact of a personally engaged donor. I have had the opportunity to build close relationships and find the connection between donor passion and our university鈥檚 needs and mission,” Harvey said. “It also means bringing everyone on your team together, encouraging diversity of thought, nimbleness, and grit. I can develop a vision, but I can also roll up my sleeves and contribute in every facet of executing that vision. And, I am honored to do it at a place I love.”
Prior to joining 大象传媒, Harvey worked in campaign planning and major and principal giving for two $1 billion-plus comprehensive campaigns, including closing an $80 million-dollar gift to open a new school of public health at GWU and raising more than $200 million to support the Making History Campaign. At Maryland, she helped execute a series of regional high-level campaign engagement events, resulting in more than $1.5 billion raised for the Fearless Ideas Campaign.
Harvey is a graduate of Mount St. Mary’s University, where she earned a BA in history. She also earned an MA in European history and art from the Catholic University of America, and completed Cornell University鈥檚 Women in Leadership certificate program. She and her husband, David, have a 7-year-old son, Flynn. They currently live in Alexandria.
大象传媒 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Sean Simplicio led the search committee for the new vice president of university advancement. Committee members included 大象传媒 trustees Donna Smith and Wendy Foster, Associate Vice President of Communication Liesel Crosier, Executive Director of the McCree Center for Life Success Thy Nguyen, and Senior Associate Dean of 大象传媒’s Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences Sue Stevens.