Bryan Benchoff, who was named vice president for University Advancement earlier this week, discusses his plans for next year, Ohio University’s Promise Lives fundraising campaign and recent resignations within the department.
Benchoff, formerly the president and CEO of the University of South Dakota Foundation, will replace Howard Lipman, who accepted a similar position at Florida International University. OU President Roderick McDavis has been serving as interim vice president for University Advancement since Lipman’s departure at the end of Fall Quarter.
The Post: What do you want to accomplish in your first year here?
Bryan Benchoff: “My plan would be to come in and to work with the Advancement team and across the university to move the Promise Lives campaign forward as rapidly and aggressively as we possibly can. Another of my short-term goals would be to enhance the Advancement team and to gear up for the public phase of the Promise Lives campaign. And early on in the process, I would like very much to get to know and garner the support universitywide for a campaign of this proportion and to prepare for a very well-developed program that will serve the university well in the years to come.”
Post: Do you think the Promise Lives campaign might increase its $450 million goal considering the recent $105 million gift to the OU College of Osteopathic Medicine? (So far, the campaign has raised $338.4 million. The campaign is scheduled to end June 30, 2015).
Benchoff: “For me, it’s too early to really know for sure, not having arrived on the job yet. Certainly, that $105 million gift is just a tremendous gift to that campaign, and I want to take (the campaign) as far as it can go whether that involves raising the goal or not. … (OU has) a lot of good people with a lot of skill sets, and I want to maximize that. … It’s going to take me a little while to settle in and get a sense of the advancement team and where we are and where we need to go.”
Post: Are you concerned about the number of employees in the department of Advancement who have left recently? (In the past week, three assistant vice presidents in University Advancement, the assistant to the vice president of University Advancement and the director of international development and alumni relations have announced they are leaving OU).
Benchoff: “Any time that there is key leadership team members that move onto other leadership opportunities, it creates a hold; there’s no doubt about it. That’s one of my short-term goals as well, to find and recruit new leadership in those positions. In the life of an Advancement team, there’s always people coming and going. … It is going to have to be something we have to address quickly so we don’t lose momentum. I do know that those were good folks. … We have to find other folks who are able and prepared to step up and continue to drive things forward.”
Post: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Benchoff: “Throughout the interview process, I was very impressed with the university and all the faculty and staff and leadership administrators I had a chance to visit with. I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity … and I look forward to getting there and becoming a part of that team and drive the mission of OU forward and make sure the Promise Lives campaign is highly successful.”
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