Cole Named VP for University Advancement and President of the Wright State University Foundation

Wright State University has named Rebecca Cole the vice president for university advancement and president of the Wright State University Foundation. Cole has been serving as the interim VP for the division.

Wright State University has named Rebecca Cole the vice president for university advancement and president of the Wright State University Foundation. Cole has been serving as the interim VP for the division.

“Becky brings the experience of a long and accomplished career in university fundraising and philanthropy to Wright State,” President David R. Hopkins said in making the announcement. “Her management and campaign experience at PAC-10 universities and a Big Ten university have prepared her well for this leadership opportunity.”

Christine Wallace, chair of the Wright State University Foundation Board of Trustees, said: “We’re fortunate to have someone with Becky’s background to serve as the president of our Foundation. As a Foundation Board, we are very committed to the Wright State student as evidenced by the recent establishment of the Foundation Board Scholarship. As Board members we’re raising funds to make an annual scholarship award in every college, school and campus at Wright State. Becky is leading us to focus on the fundraising part of our mission.”

Cole served as the foundation vice president and campaign director at Arizona State University in Tempe for their inaugural $517 million ASU Campaign for Leadership. Additionally, she was the president and chief executive officer for the Oregon State University Foundation in Corvallis during their $180 million Powering the Knowledge Economy campaign. She served as the senior development officer for the medical schools at Michigan State University for their first campaign, Access to Opportunity, and during a second employment with Michigan State was regional director of major gifts for their $1.2 billion campaign. In her distinguished career she has served as campaign director or in lead fundraising roles for six campaigns totaling $2.3 billion.

Cole joined Wright State in March 2009 as the associate vice president for development. She holds an undergraduate degree in biology and education from Central Michigan University. She also completed graduate studies at Central Michigan in health care administration. She is a 2010 graduate of Leadership Dayton and is currently serving on the Clothes That Work Board of Directors. She resides in Beavercreek.