Vice President for University Advancement and President of the Foundation Search

July 28, 2022

A message from Florida State University President Richard McCullough

Dear Campus Community,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Marla Vickers as the next vice president for University Advancement and president of the FSU Foundation.

Marla is an FSU alumna who currently serves as associate vice president of Advancement in the Division of Advancement & Alumni Engagement at Emory University in Atlanta. She is an accomplished development professional with more than 20 years of experience in higher education at some of the nation’s elite universities, and she has worked on five different multibillion-dollar campaigns.

She is a proven leader with a track record of success as a fundraiser and manager. Her energy, enthusiasm and experience will be a tremendous asset in facilitating more collaboration and alignment among all of FSU’s direct support organizations and helping the university achieve its ambitious fundraising goals.

In her new role, Vickers will lead Florida State’s fundraising, alumni relations, advancement services and real estate giving and will work closely with the Seminole Boosters while laying the groundwork for FSU’s next comprehensive campaign. She starts in the position Oct. 1.

At Emory, Marla provided leadership and strategic direction for fundraising, and alumni and constituent engagement efforts in eight academic schools and units. She also led efforts to build Emory’s major and principal gifts pipeline in a campaign environment and played a key role as a thought partner in the university’s current $4 billion campaign.

She previously held development positions at Yale University, The University of Chicago, George Washington University, Duke University, and Georgetown University.

Marla earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in 1998, a master’s degree in public history and historic administration from Florida State University in 2000, and an MBA from George Washington University in 2014. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree at Vanderbilt University.

I’m truly grateful for the leadership of Andy Jhanji and Dean Michael Hartline, who both served as interim vice president during this time of transition and guided the FSU Foundation to a historic fundraising year.

I’d like to thank Dean Erin O'Hara O'Connor, Dean Tim Chapin, the search committee and search firm WittKieffer for their service during this process, as well the deans, faculty, staff and others on campus who participated in candidate forums and offered their feedback. This was an important hire for the university, and I believe we have made an excellent choice to lead the university’s fundraising and alumni engagement initiatives.

Please join me in welcoming Marla back home to Florida State University.

Sincerely,

Richard McCullough
FSU President

January 14, 2022

A message from Florida State University President Richard McCullough

Dear Campus Community,

I write to inform you that in the coming weeks the university will launch a national search to permanently fill the vice president for advancement and president of the Foundation. This position will lead Florida State’s fundraising, alumni relations, advancement services and real estate activities, overseeing the Alumni Association, Foundation, and the Real Estate Foundation. Andy Jhanji has served as interim since Tom Jennings departure in July 2020 and I am grateful for his leadership and service in this capacity.

I'm pleased that Erin O'Hara O'Connor, dean of the College of Law, and Tim Chapin, dean of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, will co-chair the search committee. WittKieffer, a global executive search firm, has also been retained to assist with our efforts.

This is an important decision for the future of Florida State University. I strongly encourage you to contribute your thoughts on the desired qualities of the vice president for advancement and president of the Foundation, and I hope you will participate in the upcoming committee meetings and campus forums with the finalists later this year.

Thank you for engaging in this process. We will share more information shortly.

Sincerely,

Richard McCullough
FSU President