Sharing a Passion for Educational Excellence 
Chris Galligan, Vice President, Institutional Advancement, Central Connecticut State University

During the years I’ve worked at CCSU, I have been fortunate to meet many people—in the campus community and outside it—who are passionate about CCSU and the exceptional educational opportunities we provide here.  In my new role as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at CCSU, I want to meet and work with people who share that passion and want to help the University advance its educational mission in central Connecticut.

The work we do in Institutional Advancement helps create educational opportunities by providing resources for scholarships and financial aid, and it enriches the educational experience by supporting every level of the educational enterprise, from library books to information technologies, from student-faculty research to career services, from winning sports teams to exciting concerts and much more.

Critical to the success of our efforts will be our ability to establish and develop sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships with a wide array of people. 

Connecting with our passionate alumni and friends is the key to a well-rounded development effort.  As Institutional Advancement becomes increasingly integrated into the University planning process, it will become ever more important for us to stay engaged with all of our constituency groups.

Our plan is to involve the campus community and establish a fundraising culture.  Development officers will be hired to represent the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering and Technology, and Education and Professional Studies as well as Athletics.  We are confident that this approach to fundraising will build stronger relationships with alumni and friends and engage the University’s faculty, staff, and administration in these efforts.

Establishing partnerships with the external community is another important facet of our institutional advancement efforts.  We will continue to foster and to explore opportunities with various corporate, government, and non-profit organizations that understand and appreciate the mission of CCSU.  Our alumni are important in this effort, since more than 85% are employed in Connecticut.  Demonstrating a clear return on investment to our partners will help to secure additional resources needed for our academic and student affairs, athletics, and other University priorities.

Institutional advancement is about building relationships, securing resources, and providing opportunities.  Working with potential donors, on and off campus, with the motivation and ability to give is of utmost importance.  To enhance engagement with our alumni and friends, we are assessing our present offerings and considering new, value-added services.  In addition, we are also focusing on our technological infrastructure and intelligence to ensure effectiveness and efficiency.

Over the coming months, I will be visiting with alumni, corporate sponsors, foundations and friends.  We are about to do some great things for the future of the University.  If you have that famous CCSU passion, now is the time to get involved.  I welcome your comments, questions or suggestions.  Feel free to contact me at 860-832-1765 or galliganc@ccsu.edu.

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