Kimberly Hopely Named President of the Rutgers University Foundation

On Sep 14, 2021

Kimberly Hopely will be the next president of the Rutgers University Foundation and executive vice president for development and alumni engagement, President Jonathan Holloway announced today.

Hopely will join Rutgers on Oct. 11, after serving as senior vice president and chief development officer at Arizona State University, where she led a successful fundraising campaign totaling $2.35 billion. The Rutgers Board of Governors and Rutgers University Foundation Board of Directors approved Hopely’s appointment earlier today following a national search for the position.

“Kimberly Hopely brings a wealth of experience in organizational leadership and fundraising strategy to Rutgers at a key moment, as we are in the early stages of our next comprehensive fundraising campaign,” Holloway said. “With enormous thanks to our search committee, led by Margaret Marsh, I am confident that in Kimberly we have made a brilliant choice for taking the foundation to even greater levels of success in supporting our mission.”

During Hopely’s six years at Arizona State University (ASU), her alma mater, she helped to triple the base unit fundraising from $90 million per year to $275 million per year. Before arriving at ASU, Hopely was senior director of operations and development at Banner Health Foundation in Phoenix, where she led the fundraising strategy for Banner MD Anderson, Banner Children’s and Banner University Medicine.

“Ms. Hopely’s alignment with President Holloway’s culture of excellence, her important public university experience and her record of building successful development teams are impressive,” said Mark Angelson, chair of the Rutgers Board of Governors. “She brings to this essential role a thoughtful, strategic approach and a collaborative style. We have high hopes for success under Kimberly’s leadership at this pivotal time.”

As a first-generation college graduate who took a nontraditional path in her education and career, Hopely said Rutgers’ mission spoke to her personally and professionally.

“I understand the impact education has, not just on the student who becomes a contributing member of society, but to one’s family whose trajectory is altered as a result,” Hopely said. “For over 25 years, I have had the privilege of connecting people with causes where they can make a difference. I look forward to working alongside President Jonathan Holloway and the Rutgers University Foundation board and staff to advance the future of Rutgers and extend the impact of its reach.”

Before Banner Health, Hopely served five years as senior director of development and then assistant vice president for university advancement at A.T. Still University of Health Science. In that position, she became the first nonphysician chosen for the American Osteopathic Association health policy fellowship.

Earlier in her career, she served as executive director of the United Way of Grays Harbor and director of a program to reduce substance abuse, both in Aberdeen, Washington. She also oversaw health services for 11 centers with Head Start and Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program contracts in Whatcom County, Washington.

“We are thrilled Kimberly will bring her exemplary record of leadership and philanthropic success to Rutgers to lead the foundation in this exciting new era,” said Philip Scalo, Rutgers University Foundation board chair.

In her role, Hopely will be responsible for providing leadership, vision, and management of Rutgers’ development and alumni and engagement programs and aligning the aims of the university’s fundraising team with strategic universitywide priorities. She also will continue the foundation’s efforts to nurture relationships with many of Rutgers’ 530,000 diverse alumni from throughout New Jersey and the world.

Holloway thanked Lavinia Boxill, vice chancellor for advancement at Rutgers-New Brunswick, for stepping in as interim president while a search was conducted.

“Lavinia’s wisdom, leadership and poise have been invaluable in these critical months,” Holloway said. “We all look forward to working with Kimberly to secure an exciting and rewarding future for Rutgers.”

The Rutgers University Foundation advances Rutgers’ pursuit of excellence in education, research, and public service by providing a bridge between donors and the schools and programs, faculty and students of Rutgers. It helps to match caring people with satisfying and meaningful opportunities to make gifts that have an impact on Rutgers.

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

Related Articles: