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ASU Foundation Leadership
Meet the ASU Foundation’s talented leadership team.
Gretchen Buhlig
Chief Executive Officer
Gretchen Buhlig is the Chief Executive Officer of the Arizona State University Foundation for A New American University. Since joining the ASU Foundation in January 2012, Gretchen has been a catalyst for transformational change, generating record-breaking fundraising success and surpassing campaign goals year after year. Gretchen’s ultimate goal is to provide the tools, knowledge, and autonomy to enable a pipeline of future leaders to feel empowered and motivated to achieve their goals. She is a relationship-oriented idea-generator and drives large-scale institutional impact through transformative gifts.
Lauren Brown
Chief of Staff & Assistant Vice President, Development Services
Lauren Brown serves as the Assistant Vice President of Development Services and the ASU Foundation Chief of Staff, where she provides oversight of strategic initiatives within transdisciplinary units at the foundation and ASU, leads all central operations, and manages the foundation’s Board of Directors.
Andrew Carey
Assistant Vice President, Alumni Success
Andrew Carey is the Assistant Vice President of Alumni Success. Following his leadership of Campaign ASU 2020, which raised over $2.3 billion for the Sun Devil Community, he now drives pan-university alumni initiatives. He leads collaboration with university stakeholders that cultivate alumni to optimize experiences, promote life-long connections and increase affinity and advocacy. He also manages the ASU Foundation Next Generation Council.
Bill Kavan
Vice President, Engagement & Outreach
Bill Kavan is the Vice President for Engagement & Outreach. He provides strategic management and oversight of the foundation's Engagement and Outreach division, which includes the following teams: Scholarship Advancement, Donor Relations, Annual Giving, ASU Family, Alumni Success, Engagement Programs (President's Club, Women and Philanthropy) and Engagement and Outreach Development.
Briana Cons
Assistant Vice President, Research & Evaluation
Briana Cons serves as the Assistant Vice President of Research & Evaluation, where she oversees research support services for development operations, including prospect identification, wealth analysis, giving trends, engagement strategies, and data management.
Brittney Snyder
Assistant Vice President, Unit Development
Brittney Snyder is the Assistant Vice President for Unit Development at the ASU Foundation. In her role, she supports multiple academic unit development teams and helps philanthropic investors create transformative impact through investments in access to education, student success, and groundbreaking research.
David Wahls
Executive Director of Development, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
David Wahls serves as the Executive Director of Development for the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering where he leads a development team to build comprehensive partnerships with industry, alumni, parents, and community individuals to advance the Fulton Schools of Engineering, ASU and our region. The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering is the largest and most comprehensive engineering school in the nation, with over 27,000 students and 450 faculty as of 2021.
Eric Spicer
Vice President, Unit Development
Eric Spicer is the Vice President for Unit Development, where he leads a team of fundraising professionals who are embedded within colleges at ASU. Eric provides vision, strategy, and donor support to Directors and Executive Directors of Development in advancement of the ASU charter.
Jacqueline Smith
Vice President, Presidential Advancement
Jacqueline Smith, J.D. serves as Vice President for Presidential Advancement at the ASU Foundation. Jacqueline designs opportunities for presidential level prospects and organizational funders to invest in Arizona State University as a New American University. She also enhances ASU’s competitiveness for philanthropic “big bet” competitions and funding opportunities.
Kimberly Scott
Senior Fellow
Kimberly Scott is a professor of women and gender studies in the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University and the founding executive director of ASU’s Center for Gender Equity in Science and Technology. The center is a one-of-a-kind research unit focused on exploring, identifying, and creating innovative scholarship surrounding underrepresented women and girls in STEM. Dr. Scott is also the ASU Foundation’s inaugural Senior Fellow. In this role, she is documenting career experiences and creating pathways for diverse philanthropic leaders.
Patrick McDermott
Chief Engagement Officer, Thunderbird School of Global Management
Patrick McDermott is the Chief Engagement Officer for the Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU. Patrick leads a team of fundraisers and alumni engagement staff to increase active engagement levels within Thunderbird and raise revenue for scholarships, research, and advancement.
Roger Edgar
Vice President, Presidential Advancement
Roger Edgar serves as Vice President of Presidential Advancement. In that capacity, he supports President Crow and Foundation leadership to further advance transformational philanthropy in support of ASU as a New American University through raising and investing private contributions.
Ryan Robinson
Executive Director of Development, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory
As Executive Director of Development, Ryan Robinson leads the case creation, team building, fundraising efforts and strategy for the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University. The Global Futures Laboratory serves as the cornerstone of ASU’s commitment to sustainability and shaping a thriving tomorrow for all of Earth’s inhabitants by operating as a first of its kind medical center for our planet.
Scott Nelson
Assistant Vice President, Sun Devil Athletics Development
Scott Nelson is the Assistant Vice President for Sun Devil Athletics Development and the Senior Associate Athletic Director of the Sun Devil Club. Scott works closely with Sun Devil Athletics senior leadership and coaches to develop a comprehensive resource raising strategy with a focus on connecting with alumni, donors, and athletic fans to provide the resources required to support 26 NCAA DI sports and 600+ student-athletes.
Shaun Brenton
Associate Vice President, Corporate & Foundation Relations/Solutions
Shaun Brenton is the Associate Vice President of Corporate & Foundation Relations and Solutions, where she works with organizational funders seeking to make philanthropic investments in ASU to advance research, fund scholarships, and support opportunities that benefit students, faculty and the communities we serve.
Shawn Richards
Executive Director of Development, Learning Enterprise
Shawn Richards is the Executive Director of Development for ASU’s Learning Enterprise, and oversees ASU’s California advancement and development. The ASU Learning Enterprise re-imagines the role of universities in society and serve learners across their entire lifespan, from kindergarten to high school to mid-career to postretirement. Shawn is based at the Herald Examiner Building in Los Angeles to advance the mission of ASU in California.
Suzanne Rinker
Vice President, Enterprise Development
Suzanne Rinker is the Vice President of Enterprise Development at the ASU Foundation. Suzanne develops enterprise level fundraising strategies, as well as cross collaboration opportunities across the institution, working closely with the executive leadership for Knowledge Enterprise, Academic Enterprise, Learning Enterprise, Cultural Affairs, and Educational Outreach and Student Services.
Wade Stokes
Executive Director of Development, Knowledge Enterprise
Wade Stokes is the Executive Director of Development for ASU’s Knowledge Enterprise. In addition to advancing research, Knowledge Enterprise trains and supports entrepreneurs, leads the university's economic development activities, engages with corporate partners and international development agencies, and facilitates technology transfer. Wade is based at the Barrett & O’Conner Center in Washington DC to advance the mission of ASU in the Capitol Region.
All boards
The directors establish policy and annual goals, oversee fiduciary responsibilities and business affairs, and oversee management of the endowment and investments.
John W. Graham (Chair), Chairman and CEO, Sunbelt Holdings
John Graham is the chairman and CEO of Sunbelt Holdings. Mr. Graham’s background in asset management, development and real estate investment provides a solid foundation of knowledge and experience in the real estate field. His prior experience included The Koll Company in asset management and development from 1980–82 and Coldwell Banker in asset management and sales from 1978–80. Mr. Graham has been involved with several community organizations, including the Arizona Forward Association, Banner Health Foundation, Brophy College Preparatory, Fighter Country Partnership and many more. He is also an ASU trustee. Mr. Graham received his B.A. in economics from Stanford University.
Nita Francis (Vice Chair), President, F2 Family Foundation LLC
Nita Francis is president of the F2 Family Foundation and member of the Arizona section of the International Women’s Forum. She has an extensive background and interest in healthcare and education. Ms. Francis worked for the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix campus and Phoenix Children’s Hospital until her retirement. She has a long history of community involvement in Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Boston and Phoenix, including Teen Parent Connection, the National Medical Interpreter Project and United Way. She is vice chair of the boards at ASU Enterprise Partners and the ASU Foundation, and a former co-chair of the founder’s executive committee of Women & Philanthropy. Ms. Francis received an MBA from Indiana University in 1971 and a B.A. in agriculture from the University of Illinois–Urbana Champaign in 1968.
Hope M. Sharett (Secretary), General Counsel, ASU Enterprise Partners
Hope Sharett joined ASU Enterprise Partners as general counsel in October 2019. She most recently led the corporate philanthropy program of a private management and investment company in Columbus, Ohio. She began her career at the law firm of Bricker & Eckler LLP, advising clients in the public and nonprofit sectors on matters of governance and infrastructure finance. Her areas of focus include contract law, nonprofit governance and charitable law. Ms. Sharett is an experienced administrator having served as executive director of Ohio’s statewide nonprofit Law and Leadership Institute and as director of outside counsel for the Ohio attorney general with oversight of legal matters for its 88 public colleges, universities, boards, commissions and agencies. She currently volunteers on the boards of the Friends of Public Radio Arizona, the Hope Center and the National Council for The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law. Ms. Sharett received a J.D. and an M.A. in public policy and management in 2003 from The Ohio State University. She received a B.A. in political science from Vanderbilt University in 1999.
Lauren E. Bailey ‘02, Co-Founder and CEO, Upward Projects
Lauren Bailey is the co-founder and CEO of Upward Projects. The Phoenix-based company is the operator of five restaurant concepts including Postino, Joyride Taco House, Federal Pizza, Windsor and Churn in Arizona, Colorado and Texas. Ms. Bailey was named a 2019 Nation’s Restaurant News Power List leader, a 2018 Phoenix Magazine 40 Under 40, a 2014 Phoenix Business Journal 40 Under 40 and an Arizona Republic 35 Entrepreneurs 35 & Younger in 2013. In 2014, she was inducted into the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame as Restaurateur of the Year and in 2015, she was selected as an Outstanding Women in Business honoree by Phoenix Business Journal. She is a member of the ASU Foundation’s Next Generation Council and is an advisory board member for the Colangelo College of Business at Grand Canyon University. Ms. Bailey received a B.A. in studio art and a B.A. in communication from ASU in 2002.
Steve A. Betts, Managing Director of Development, Holualoa Companies
Steve Betts became the managing director of development for Holualoa Companies, a real estate investment firm with locations in Arizona, California, Hawaii and France, in August 2020. He is also the founder and president of Betts Real Estate Advisors in Phoenix. Mr. Betts’s other notable roles include serving as president of Chanen Construction Company, Phoenix Mart LLC and SunCor Development Company. He is a director at Tejon Ranch, a real estate and agribusiness company, and a member of Teach for America’s Phoenix regional board. He is the current board chairman of ASU Enterprise Partners’ University Realty and served as senior vice president and managing director of assets for the ASU Foundation from 2012–13. In addition, he is a real estate advisor and member at First Place AZ, an organization that provides supportive housing for adults with neurodiversities. His past notable board service includes serving as chairman and a trustee for The Nature Conservancy and chairman of the Urban Land Institute’s Arizona District Council. Mr. Betts received a J.D. from DePaul University in 1983 and a B.A. from Augustana College in 1980.
Gretchen E. Buhlig, CEO, ASU Foundation
Gretchen E. Buhlig is the Chief Executive Officer of the Arizona State University Foundation for A New American University. Since joining the ASU Foundation in January 2012, Gretchen has been a catalyst for transformational change by leading the advancement of the ASU charter, generating record-breaking fundraising success and surpassing campaign goals year after year. Under Gretchen’s leadership, Campaign ASU 2020 brought ASU $2.35B and 359,700 individuals, corporations, and foundations (over 213,400 of which were new donors); which served as a catalyst for research, the revitalization of communities, and gave more students access to education through scholarships. Gretchen is a member of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges Council of Foundation Leaders, the Fast Company’s Innovation Council, and the U.S. Education Pathways for Refugee Students Funding Working Group. She previously served as a mentor in the Valleywise Health Foundation Emerging Leaders program. Gretchen holds a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College, a masters in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Walden University, and a graduate certificate in Authentic Leadership from Harvard University.
Malissia R. Clinton ‘90, General Counsel & Secretary, Meritage Homes
Malissia Clinton joined Meritage Homes as executive vice president, general counsel and secretary in April 2022. Prior to joining Meritage, she served as the senior vice president and general counsel at The Aerospace Corporation, a nonprofit that provides information on launch vehicles, satellite and ground control systems and space technology. Previously, she served as senior counsel for special projects at Northrup Grumman. She serves on the board of directors of 3D Systems Corporation, City of Hope and Progyny Inc. Ms. Clinton received a J.D. from Stanford University in 1993 and a B.S. in political science from ASU in 1990. She also participated in the UCLA executive management program. In 2011, she earned the “Being a Difference Award” presented by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy Center for the Public Trust.
Michael M. Crow, President, ASU
Michael Crow, Ph.D., became the 16th president of ASU in 2002. Under his leadership the university has nearly tripled research expenditures, completed an unprecedented infrastructure expansion, and announced the eight largest gifts in the history of the institution, including three $50 million gifts, endowing the W. P. Carey School of Business; Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering; and Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. Prior to joining ASU, Dr. Crow was executive vice provost of Columbia University, where he also was professor of science and technology policy in the School of International and Public Affairs. In national service, Dr. Crow has been an adviser to the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, and Energy, and various defense and intelligence agencies on matters of science and technology policy related to intelligence and national security. A fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, and member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Council on Foreign Relations, he is the author of books and articles relating to the design and analysis of knowledge enterprises, technology transfer, sustainable development, and science and technology policy.
Virginia “Ginny” DeSanto ‘98, CFO and Treasurer, ASU Enterprise Partners
Ginny DeSanto joined the ASU Foundation in 2005 as the assistant controller before being appointed to controller, and later CFO and treasurer. She was instrumental in leading the organization through a corporate entity restructure that created the parent company ASU Enterprise Partners to provide shared services to five subsidiary organizations. Prior to joining ASU Enterprise Partners, she was a senior auditor at Gainter Bandler Reed & Peters, PLC following service in the same role for Cbiz – Miller Wagner Mayer Hoffman McCann. She received a B.S. in business administration from ASU, summa cum laude, She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, secretary and treasurer for the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants, chair of the National Committee for Institutionally Related Foundations and a graduate of Valley Leadership Class 35.
Dan Dillon, CEO, ASU Enterprise Partners
Dan Dillon Jr. oversees the operations of ASU Enterprise Partners’ affiliate organizations. He previously served as ASU’s chief marketing officer and senior vice president, a post he assumed in 2013. During his tenure, he launched the ASU Enterprise Marketing Hub, and built and shaped its award-winning staff. His primary focus was to advance affinity for the university, which he and his team accomplished by enhancing the integrity of the ASU brand and implementing innovative and impactful marketing activities across the university. He is a seasoned executive with more than 25 years in domestic and global management roles in the highly competitive consumer packaged goods and restaurant industries. He has served in C-level and executive positions for leading U.S. companies, including General Mills, Keebler, Nabisco, Heinz, Con Agra and Coca-Cola. Prior to coming to ASU and launching the Enterprise Marketing Hub, he was chief marketing officer at Outback Steakhouse and most recently the executive vice president at Ruby Tuesday Inc. He received his MBA from Bentley College in Massachusetts and B.A. from St. Anselm College in New Hampshire.
Steve O. Evans ‘67, Chairman, Evans Charitable Foundation
Steve Evans is chairman of Evans Charitable. He has served as president of Evans Realty Associates, a private real estate investment company based in Paradise Valley. Mr. Evans recently retired as executive committee member and trustee of Equity Residential, one of America’s largest multifamily companies. Before its merger with Equity Residential in 1998, he was founder, chairman and CEO of Evans Withycombe Residential, a publicly traded real estate investment trust specializing in housing in the Southwest and California. Mr. Evans’ business affiliations have included: Arizona Multi-housing Association, Phoenix Community Alliance, Urban Land Institute, Lambda Alpha Land Economics Fraternity, National Multi-housing Council and National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT). He is a director of the Biltmore Bank of Arizona. Mr. Evans is the 14th immediate past chair of the Arizona Community Foundation where he was a director from 2012–21. Following his college education, he served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force for four years. Mr. Evans received an MBA in 1968 and a B.S. in management in 1967 from ASU.
Ira A. Fulton, Founder, Fulton Homes
Ira Fulton founded Fulton Homes, a family-owned homebuilding company, in 1975. Mr. Fulton, a Tempe-native, began working as a newspaper carrier for the Arizona Republic at the age of 11. After attending ASU on a football scholarship, he began working at National Cash Register (NCR). From NCR, he went on to form his own companies including auto parts and tire stores, computer companies and an insurance business. In 1974, he became a consultant for Eagleson’s Big and Tall men’s clothiers in southern California. At the time, Eagleson’s consisted of two retail outlets and was close to bankruptcy. Within two years, Mr. Fulton purchased the company, turned it around and expanded it to include 33 retail stores. Mr. Fulton’s wife, Mary Lou, passed away in 2015, and received a B.A. in education from ASU in 1974. He is also an ASU trustee.
Doug S. Fulton, CEO, Fulton Homes
Doug Fulton is CEO of Tempe-based Fulton Homes, a position he has held since 2007. Previously, he served as the president of Fulton Homes Sales Corp. Mr. Fulton was also a special deputy to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, flying helicopters for its Central Arizona Mountain Rescue Association. After Hurricane Katrina, he assisted law enforcement agencies in delivering medical supplies to the New Orleans area. At the age of 13, Mr. Fulton began working for Eagleson’s Big and Tall men’s clothier, where his father, Fulton Homes founder Ira A. Fulton, worked as a consultant. Mr. Fulton is also an ASU trustee.
Jay Heiler ‘83, CEO, Great Hearts Academies
Jay Heiler is CEO and founder of Great Hearts Academies, a chain of non-profit charter schools in the Phoenix area. Mr. Heiler is a public affairs consultant who served on the Arizona Board of Regents from 2012–20. He has been active in Arizona politics for many years, having served as the chief of staff for former Governor Fife Symington and as a member of Governor Jan Brewer’s transition team. From 1986–89, he served as an assistant attorney general in the organized crime and racketeering office of the Arizona Attorney General’s office. Mr. Heiler is the chairman of the Arizona Charter Schools Association. In addition, he serves on the board of Pan Am Education, a for-profit firm that provides online classroom content. While an undergraduate at ASU, he was a Pulliam scholar and served as editor-in-chief of The State Press. He also has coached AAU, high school, and youth basketball for 20 years. Mr. Heiler received a J.D. in 1986 and a B.S. in journalism in 1983 from ASU.
Mary M. Hentges ‘81, Former CFO, YapStone Inc.
Mary Hentges served as the CFO of YapStone Inc., an online payment service provider, from 2012–14. Previously, she was the chief financial officer at CBS Interactive and PayPal, assistant corporate controller at Agilent Technologies and finance director at Hewlett-Packard. She is a director at Upstart and Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine and an advisor to Relola, Jiko Group and LendStreet. Mrs. Hentges received a B.S. in accountancy from ASU in 1981. She is a member of the W.P. Carey School of Business Hall of Fame.
Chris Howard, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, ASU Public Enterprise
Dr. Chris Howard is executive vice president and chief operating officer of ASU Public Enterprise. Previously, he was the eighth president of Robert Morris University (RMU) from 2016–22. Prior to his appointment as president of RMU, Dr. Howard was the president of Hampden-Sydney College, near Richmond, Va., for six years. He was vice president for Leadership and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Oklahoma, where he also served as the director of the Honors College Leadership Center and as a president’s associates presidential professor. Dr. Howard earned a Bronze Star for service in Afghanistan and served with the elite joint special operations command and as the reserve air attaché to Liberia. He won the Campbell Trophy, the nation’s highest academic award for a senior college football player. He also is a member of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and a former member of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. In 2018, he was honored by Harvard University with a distinguished alumni award. As a Rhodes Scholar, he received a doctorate in politics at the University of Oxford and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he received a B.S. in political science in 1991.
Lisa S. Loo, Vice President for Legal Affairs and Deputy General Counsel, ASU
Lisa S. Loo serves as vice president for Legal Affairs and Deputy General Counsel at ASU. In her role, she focuses on special projects and initiatives, commercial transactions, procurement, real estate and immigration matters. Prior to joining ASU in 1993, she was in private practice for eight years. Ms. Loo served on the Executive Council of the National Conference of Bar Presidents from 2017-2020. She served as president of the State Bar of Arizona from 2016 to 2017. The State Bar of Arizona recognized Ms. Loo in 2008 for Outstanding Achievement in Advancing Equal Opportunity in the Profession and, as the 1993 Outstanding Young Lawyer. She is a founding board member of the Arizona Asian American Bar Association. She received a law degree from the University of Virginia in 1985 and an undergraduate degree from Fordham University in 1982.
Anne L. Mariucci, General Partner, MFLP
Anne Mariucci is a private investor, community advocate and general partner at MFLP, a Phoenix-based family office investment entity. She spent most of her corporate career with Del Webb Corporation, retiring as president following a merger with Pulte Homes in 2001 where she went on to serve as executive vice president of strategy. Ms. Mariucci served an eight-year term on the Arizona Board of Regents, during which she was chairperson and held leadership roles such as board director of the University of Arizona Health Network prior to its merger with Banner Health. Her board service includes private equity and private investment entities, community service and philanthropic organizations, including Berry Petroleum Company, Banner Health, Taylor Morrison, CoreCivic, Southwest Gas Corporation and Hawkeye Partners. Ms. Mariucci is a current director at ASU Enterprise Partners’ University Realty. She received a B.S. in accounting and finance from the University of Arizona in 1978.
Morgan R. Olsen, CFO, Treasurer and Executive Vice President, ASU
Morgan Olsen became the executive vice president, treasurer and CFO of ASU in 2008. He came to ASU from Purdue University, where he served as executive vice president and treasurer. Before he joined Purdue, Dr. Olsen served as the business and financial vice president at three other higher education institutions, Southern Methodist University, Eastern Illinois University and Emporia State University (Kansas). He holds an appointment as professor of practice in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. He is the chair of the board of directors for the United Educators insurance company and is a past chair of the board of directors for the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). He is also a past president of the Central Association of College and University Business Officers (CACUBO). He holds a Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota.
Harry A. Papp, Managing Partner, L. Roy Papp & Associates, LLP
Harry Papp is the managing partner and portfolio manager of L. Roy Papp & Associates and has three decades of experience in portfolio management and security analysis. Mr. Papp is past chairman and member of the board of directors for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona. He is also a trustee emeritus of The Phoenix Zoo, board member and treasurer of the Institute of Human Origins at ASU and president of the Arizona Five Arts Circle. Mr. Papp is a member of the Planned Giving Committee for the Desert Botanical Garden, the Phoenix Art Museum and Ballet Arizona. He received an MBA and M.S. in geochemistry from the University of Chicago and a B.A. from Brown University.
Bill J. Post ‘73, Chairman of the Board and CEO (Retired), Pinnacle West Capital Corporation
Bill Post is a Valley leader and director of First Solar, Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Arizona, the City of Hope and the Translational Genomics Research Institute. Under Mr. Post’s leadership, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and its subsidiary, Arizona Public Service, became leaders in Arizona’s sustainable business. He founded Arizona Businesses Advancing Sustainability with Intel, focusing on internal sustainable research and operations. Mr. Post received a B.S. in quantitative systems from ASU in 1973. He also holds an honorary doctor of humane letters from Northern Arizona University.
Tony B. Sarsam ‘85, President and CEO, SpartanNash Company
Tony Sarsam became the president and CEO of SpartanNash in September 2020. Previously, he was the CEO of Borden Dairy Company since 2018 and served as CEO of Ready Pac Foods Inc. from 2013–18. Prior to joining Ready Pac, Mr. Sarsam held executive roles with Nestle and PepsiCo Inc. In 2019, he was named one of the Most Admired CEOs in North Texas by the Dallas Business Journal. Mr. Sarsam is a member of the Industry Engagement Catalyst in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. As a student, he was a member of the ASU student government and Sun Devil Band. Mr. Sarsam received an M.S. in management from Stanford University in 1997 and a B.S.E. in chemical engineering from ASU in 1985.
Gary Trujillo ‘83, President and CEO, Southwest Harvard Group
Gary Trujillo is the founder, president and CEO of Southwest Harvard Group, a venture capital and private equity group he formed in 1990 after graduating from Harvard Business School. Mr. Trujillo has been a serial entrepreneur for nearly 40 years with experience as a financier, founder, CEO and corporate board member. He has three decades of board experience, including serving on three publicly traded company boards and serving as chairman for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona. Mr. Trujillo co-founded the Be A Leader Foundation in 2002, an education-focused nonprofit serving more than 14,000 students per year. Mr. Trujillo received an MBA from Harvard University in 1990 and a B.S. in accountancy from ASU in 1983. Mrs. Trujillo received a B.S. in finance from ASU in 1991.
E. Keith Wirtz ‘83, Vice President and CIO, Union Savings Bank
Keith Wirtz has served as vice president and chief information officer of Union Savings Bank since July 2019. Previously, Mr. Wirtz served as a principal and portfolio manager of Walrus Partners LLC. He served in various leadership roles and as chief information officer for several companies, such as Fifth Third Asset Management, Paladin Investment Associates, LLC, Investment Advisers Inc. and TradeStreet Investment Associates, Inc. He is an independent trustee for First Western Trust Funds, a trustee and an investment committee trustee for UC Health and advisory board member with the ASU Student Investment Management Fund and the W. P. Carey School of Business Finance Department. Mr. Wirtz has served as the investment task force chair with the central region Boy Scouts of America. He received an M.S. in investment management and financial analysis from Creighton University and a B.S. in finance from ASU in 1983.
Roger L. Wittlin ‘76, Principal, Wittlin Investment Advisory
Roger Wittlin has served as principal of Wittlin Investment Advisory since May 2013. He also serves as principal for Pacific Coast Capital Partners, a commercial real estate debt and equity solutions company. Mr. Wittlin has 35 years in capital markets and investment management experience with entities including Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. Previously, he was the founding partner and portfolio manager of the Silver Lake Credit Fund within Silver Lake Partners, which focused on purchasing opportunistic debt for investors. Prior to joining Silver Lake, Mr. Wittlin was the lead portfolio manager and group head of Sutter Credit Strategies/Wells Capital Management, which managed high yield and leveraged loan credit portfolios. Under his leadership, financial assets under management grew to $3.5 billion. He has served on boards for The Painted Turtle Gang Camp Foundation, Thunderbird School of Global Management, the College Bound Foundation and the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business Professional Mentorship Program. Currently, Mr. Wittlin is a director for ASU Enterprise Partners and ASU Foundation University Realty boards. In 2011, he was given the W. P. Carey Distinguished Achievement Award. Mr. Wittlin received a dual MBA and M.I.M. from Thunderbird School of Global Management in 1978 and a B.S. in journalism from ASU in 1976.
Mission, Vision, and History
The ASU Foundation builds partnerships and relationships, uniting ideas, people, philanthropic support and investments to advance ASU’s goals for inclusion, student success, discovery and local and global impact.
To become nationally recognized as the model for A New American University Foundation.
The ASU Foundation was incorporated on June 22, 1955, as the Arizona State College Foundation.
The foundation drew inspiration from the generosity of George and Martha Wilson of 20 acres of land in 1885 to create the Tempe Normal School, which would later become Arizona State University.
In the 1930s, the Bulldog Boosters organization actively raised support for athletic programs for the Arizona State Teachers College, as it was known at the time. In the mid-1940s, the fundraising group changed its name to Sun Angels, concurrent with the renaming of the college’s mascot to the Sun Devils.
In 1947, Grady Gammage, president of the newly named Arizona State College, established the Agricultural Advisory Council to advocate for and raise funds on behalf of the school’s agricultural activities. In 1955, the council was incorporated and renamed the Arizona State College Foundation, with its philanthropic mission broadened to serve the entire college.
A state referendum in 1958 renamed the college Arizona State University, with a concomitant name change for the foundation to Arizona State University Foundation, more commonly referred to as the ASU Foundation. In 2008, the foundation was renamed the Arizona State University Foundation for A New American University to reflect the vision laid out for the university by President Michael Crow.
Embracing its innovative reputation, in 2016, the ASU Foundation for A New American University reorganized as ASU Enterprise Partners, which comprises five diverse resource-raising entities, including the foundation, which maintains its singular focus on philanthropy and development on behalf of ASU.
Careers with the ASU Foundation
If you’re ready to change the future of fundraising, let’s connect. Building a movement requires all hands on deck, from entrepreneurs to graphic designers, fundraisers to accountants, filmmakers to investors.
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