Vice President for University Advancement Howard Lipman will leave Ohio University for Florida at the end of Fall Quarter - just seven months before his contract expires.
It's really about family
Lipman said, adding that his father and brother live in southern Florida.
Lipman, who also serves as CEO of the OU Foundation, accepted a similar position at Florida International University in Miami, according to an e-mail sent yesterday from OU President Roderick McDavis. Effective Dec. 1, Lipman will serve as senior vice president for University Advancement and president and CEO of the FIU's Foundation.
Lipman said he and FIU President Mark Rosenberg spoke many times during the past few years, and the decision to return to Florida just kind of happened. Lipman will be the sixth top administrator to leave OU since 2004.
As head of University Advancement and the OU Foundation, Lipman earns slightly more than $232,000 a year. Lipman declined to say how much he will make at FIU.
As head of University Advancement and the OU Foundation, Lipman's primary responsibilities include fundraising and managing university investments. He receives an $800 car allowance each month and has an annual $5,232 discretionary budget. The discretionary funds can be used to purchase an Athens Country Club and other club memberships according to his employment contract.
OU will immediately begin assembling a search committee to find Lipman's replacement. Until a replacement is announced, McDavis will act as head of University Advancement.
McDavis, who will not receive additional compensation, will take over because it is so important right now as we are in the very active stage of the capital campaign that he as the president provide leadership said Becky Watts, McDavis' chief of staff.
The announcement of Lipman's departure comes during the active phase of a $450 million capital campaign, which is slated to end June 30, 2015. At the Board of Trustees' September meeting, Lipman reported that OU had already raised more than $216 million toward the campaign goal.
Both Watts and Lipman said his leaving would not negatively affect the campaign.
Prior to coming to OU in 2006, Lipman worked at FIU for about four years as vice president of University Advancement and executive director of the university's Foundation.
Rosenberg sent an e-mail to FIU faculty, staff and students yesterday welcoming Lipman back to the university.
Representatives from FIU could not be reached for further comment.
We wish Howard and his family success
health and happiness as they return to Florida
McDavis said in the e-mail. We salute his success over the past four years in continuing the legacy of donor support for Ohio University.
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Caitlin Bowling
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HOWARD LIPMAN
