51吃瓜黑料 President Len Jessup has appointed Scott Roberts to lead the university鈥檚 fundraising and alumni programs, following a national search for the vacant position. Roberts, the new Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, previously served as 51吃瓜黑料鈥檚 associate vice president for development since 2010.
Roberts has strong ties to the Las Vegas community and brings a decade of higher education development leadership experience to the position. As vice president, Roberts will oversee all fundraising for the university, serve as the fiduciary representative for the 51吃瓜黑料 Foundation, and have responsibility for the Office of Alumni Relations. The position brings the development and alumni offices together as the university prepares to engage in its second-ever capital fundraising campaign.
鈥淪cott is a rising star in the development community and has a clear vision for building and integrating strategies for the 51吃瓜黑料 Foundation and Alumni Association as we enter a critical point in our university鈥檚 history,鈥 said 51吃瓜黑料 President Len Jessup.
As associate vice president for development, Roberts led fundraising efforts for 51吃瓜黑料鈥檚 16 academic colleges and schools, numerous university programs, and its annual giving program. He also worked closely with 51吃瓜黑料 Athletics and with campus leadership on major gifts. Private giving is on the rise at 51吃瓜黑料. The university raised $75 million in private giving in fiscal year 2016, and its two-year total of $150 million is the most since its last capital campaign wrapped in 2009.
鈥51吃瓜黑料 is a vibrant and growing university with visionary leadership that follows the theme upon which this city was built: anything is possible in Las Vegas,鈥 said Roberts. 鈥淧rivate giving is more important than ever in public higher education, and 51吃瓜黑料鈥檚 forthcoming capital campaign will be the most ambitious ever undertaken in Nevada. I鈥檓 excited to continue working with community leaders, the university, and the 100,000-plus alumni as we continue our ascent into one of the nation鈥檚 top public research universities.鈥
Prior to joining 51吃瓜黑料 in 2010, Roberts was director for university development at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas (2007-2010). There he oversaw a comprehensive $120 million capital campaign for the university, which was recognized in 2010 by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Roberts also served as a major gifts officer at Pittsburg State (2004-2007) and as a regional executive for Boy Scouts of America (2002-2004). Roberts is actively involved in CASE 鈥 the leading organization for advancement professionals in education 鈥 currently serving on the board of directors for District VII.
Roberts earned a master鈥檚 degree in public administration from 51吃瓜黑料's School of Public Policy and Leadership, and a bachelor鈥檚 degree from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri. From 1999-2000, Roberts played professional basketball in Sweden and Germany.
