Northeastern Illinois University is in the process of screening three candidates hoping to become the Vice President for Advancement.
Murrell Duster, chair of the search and screen committee, who is also dean, academic development, said she believes that adding the position of Vice President for Advancement is a very important strategic change for the university at this time.
“We need more community outreach, we need more involvement with corporations and other funding sources and foundations in the community, and [we need] to strengthen what is happening with our alumni who value their education and are willing to give back,” Duster said.
Duster told the Independent that the search for the Vice President for Advancement began nationally with 44 potential candidates that were eventually narrowed down to Howard B. Newman, Carla A. Knorowski, and Marc Allen Newman-who withdrew himself from consideration for personal reasons.
Howard Newman received his bachelor of arts degree, SUNY at Stony Brook, 1972 and received his juris doctorate from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, 1988.
He is currently Vice President of Development for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Knorowski received her bachelor and master of arts in communication, as well as her doctorate in public policy and political science from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
She is currently the managing director, development, of the Chicago Humanities Festival.
When asked what the university is looking for in a successful candidate, Duster replied, “Northeastern is seeking an energetic and creative individual to redefine the vision of philanthropy and university advancement programs at our unique and exciting university. The Vice President for Advancement will oversee fundraising and development activities as well as the areas of alumni affairs, marketing and public relations. The individual will also serve as the executive director of the Northeastern Illinois University Foundation.”
The search and screen committee for the Vice President for Advancement have held three separate open meetings on campus, one for each of the three candidates.
The purpose of having open meetings was to afford students, staff and faculty the opportunity to meet and question the candidates, according to an NEIU press release. Each candidate did a presentation and fielded questions from the audience.
Duster said the new Vice President for Advancement will be responsible for attracting new sources of giving, promoting the involvement of alumni, friends and the community in University activities, and the role of the University in promoting the academic, economic and social vitality of the region, the state and the nation.