CEO's Corner

Jay Dowd, chief fundraiser for Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C., will become The Citadel's next vice president of institutional advancement and chief executive officer of The Citadel Foundation.

Dowd, 45, has 20 years of experience in higher education fundraising, institutional advancement and executive leadership. He currently serves as Francis Marion's vice president for development and as executive director at the Francis Marion University Education Foundation. A member of the senior staff, he serves as the university's principal development officer, oversees the operations of the development office, alumni office and the university's foundation and led the creation of the Rural Leadership Institute, which fosters community leadership development in rural areas of the Pee Dee region of South Carolina.

The Citadel Board of Visitors and The Citadel Foundation Board of Director's Executive Committee approved his hiring on Friday.

As CEO of The Citadel Foundation and the college's chief advancement officer, Dowd, in coordination with the president, BOV and the TCF board, will develop and implement a wide-reaching fundraising program for current and future funding needs of the college. In conjunction with the foundation staff, Dowd will work to ensure a coordinated approach to institutional advancement, supporting the college's strategic priorities.

"Jay brings to The Citadel outstanding professional experience in fundraising for colleges and universities," said Citadel President Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa. "As chief development officer, Jay's talents will be crucial to propelling The Citadel to national recognition for the education and development of principled leaders."

Dowd is a graduate of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., where he earned a BA in history. He received his master's in education (student personnel services) from the University of South Carolina and is currently pursuing his doctorate in higher education administration from USC.

Prior to his position at Francis Marion, Dowd worked in advancement and university fundraising at Columbia (S.C.) College, Methodist College in Fayetteville, N.C., the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (N.C.), and Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C. Active in the community, he serves in various leadership roles with the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, the Boys and Girls Club of the Pee Dee Area and the Florence Family YMCA. Dowd is also active in the Florence Kiwanis, Central United Methodist Church, as a youth little league baseball coach and with the United Way of Florence County. In 2010, he received the Winthrop University Alumni Professional Achievement Award from Winthrop University.

"My wife Kim and I look forward to becoming active and engaged members of both The Citadel and Charleston communities," Dowd said. "It is an honor to have the confidence of General Rosa, the search committee, along with the board of The Citadel Foundation and college's Board of Visitors as we collectively move forward with advancing the college's strategic initiatives. It is truly an exciting time to join The Citadel and I am eager to begin working with the foundation staff, alumni, and other constituencies to build upon the strong traditions and past successes."

Dowd will start work at The Citadel Feb. 4.

Source:  http://www.citadel.edu/root/tcf-ceo-jaydowd

Dear Alumni,

It gives me great pleasure to address you within these pages once again. In July, The Citadel Foundation Board of Directors invited me to serve as interim Chief Executive Officer of TCF and Vice President of Institutional Advancement.

You likely saw me last in my role as the 2011 president of our Alumni Association, which enabled me to serve on the TCF Board of Directors and as an ex officio member of the Board of Visitors. My participation on our key governing boards has given me a keen understanding of the college’s internal operations as well as a humbling sense of the needs and challenges we face ahead.

Despite this change in leadership at TCF, our focus remains the same. We are decisively committed to the three cornerstones of our mission: to secure, manage, and steward philanthropic support for The Citadel. Since my arrival, I have made a concerted effort to coordinate with Lieutenant General Rosa and his staff to ensure that we are all marching in step in the service of our long-term strategic plan.

Our needs are vast, and the stakes are high. Fortunately, that’s when The Citadel—like those it educates to lead—performs at its best.

As alumni, we have a myriad of opportunities to support our alma mater. I encourage you to stay involved in a manner that suits you: contact your class leaders to keep yourself informed; make plans to return for Homecoming; and, if you are celebrating a milestone reunion, get acquainted with your class’s reunion projects and progress toward your goal... and commit to do your part.    

Above all, stay engaged in the life of The Citadel. I am honored to serve in this role, so please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can assist in any way. You may reach me directly at 843.953.7550 or ralph.tice@citadel.edu.

Thanks for all you do. The Citadel’s ability to produce the next generation’s principled leaders depends largely on those who came before to form the Long Gray Line.

Sincerely,

Ralph Tice
Interim Chief Executive Officer, The Citadel Foundation
Interim Vice President of Institutional Advancement, The Citadel