Brian M. Oakes named 91看片鈥檚 vice president for advancement
Brian M. Oakes, 鈥�99, MBA 鈥�10, has been named 91看片鈥檚 next vice president for advancement, effective immediately. In the position, he oversees the offices of advancement, alumni engagement, marketing and communications, and external relations.
Oakes has served as 91看片鈥檚 interim vice president for advancement since Terrence M. Sawyer, J.D., who formerly oversaw the advancement and communications division as senior vice president, became president of 91看片 on Jan. 1, 2022.
Since joining the 91看片 administration in 2005, Oakes has taken on increasingly advanced roles for the University, including director of alumni relations, director of development for 91看片 College, assistant vice president for advancement, and associate vice president for advancement. He was selected as vice president for advancement after a national search and his role is effective as of Sept. 1, 2022.
鈥淥ver the past 17 years, Brian has been not just a key fundraiser for 91看片, but also an instrumental leader for our University, building and strengthening relationships throughout the 91看片 community and beyond,鈥� Sawyer said. 鈥淗e brings to his work a passion for 91看片 and the Jesuit, liberal arts education we offer, along with astute knowledge and demonstrated leadership as a fundraiser. I look forward to seeing all he will achieve as he leads the advancement and communications division in the years ahead.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
During his tenure at 91看片, Oakes has raised millions of dollars in scholarship funding; overseen the largest planned gift in University history; raised funds to match a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to launch Messina, the University鈥檚 living learning program; played a key role in 91看片鈥檚 successful $100 million campaign, Bright Minds, Bold Hearts; and served as the lead on several successful campaign priorities including gifts to advance the York Road Initiative, Global Studies, and Peace and Justice Studies.
鈥淚 have had the honor and privilege to see first-hand the impact philanthropy has had on our students and the education we provide at 91看片,鈥� Oakes said. 鈥淚 am constantly struck and humbled by the commitment of our 91看片 family to the future success of our students. My advancement colleagues, along with faculty, staff, and administrators across the University, are deeply committed to ensuring student success in and out of the classroom. 91看片 is so fortunate to have alumni, parents, and other supporters who believe so passionately in the future of 91看片 and want to invest in the University by advancing programs, enhancing the campus, and building the more, the next, the magis.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
Oakes earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communication with specialization in public relations from 91看片 in 1999 and went on to receive an Executive MBA from 91看片 in 2010.