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Campus Announcements

Tom Herbert to step down as University Advancement leader

Miami University's endowment has nearly doubled under Herbert’s leadership

Tom Herbert and the front of Muerstein
Campus Announcements

Tom Herbert to step down as University Advancement leader

After more than nine years at Miami University, Tom Herbert, senior vice president for University Advancement and president of Miami University Foundation, is stepping down this spring. Senior Associate Vice President Brad Bundy will serve as interim vice president for University Advancement. Assistant Vice President Mackenzie Rice will assume responsibility of leading the Miami University Foundation on an interim basis. 

Under Herbert’s leadership, University Advancement has raised more than $605 million and launched a capital campaign that has raised $499 million in just five-and-a-half years. This funding has contributed to nearly doubling Miami’s endowment, from $387.2 million in 2012 to approximately $751 million. Additionally, Alumni Relations dramatically enhanced its reach, touching Miami alumni around the globe with new and innovative programming 

“Miami University is sincerely grateful for Tom’s leadership over this past decade,” Miami President Gregory Crawford said. “His accomplishments in raising money and engendering support for our university are evident in the numbers, and he has built a truly outstanding team to position this university for success well into the future.”   

Miami has built a strong reputation for excellence within the advancement field, as evidenced by its consistently strong recognition from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). In the past five years, Herbert’s team has earned more CASE awards than any other member of Miami’s district for its innovative and successful fundraising, alumni engagement and communications programs. In addition, under Herbert’s leadership the Miami University Foundation Board has grown to 23 members, with greater diversity and a deeper level of volunteer engagement.

"Serving Miami for the past nine years has been a tremendous privilege that I have enjoyed greatly. I have never worked with such talented and dedicated people,” Herbert said. “It is now time for me to pause and think about my future steps. But I depart knowing that Miami will continue to exceed its challenges and be one of the country's finest institutions."

In addition to providing leadership at Miami, Herbert has done much for his profession, serving on the CASE Philanthropy Commission, the NACUBO National Board of Directors, and as a faculty member at Rice University's Center of Philanthropy and NonProfit Leadership. He also developed and chaired two new CASE conferences. He also co-authored a textbook on securing major and planned gifts, “Conducting a Successful Major Gifts and Planned Giving Program.”