Washington College Appoints Elizabeth Herman To Head Development And Alumni Relations

Chestertown, MD, January 19, 2005 — Washington College is pleased to announce the appointment of Elizabeth B. Herman as Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, the Office of College President Baird Tipson announced January 20. Herman is the former Vice President for College Advancement at Franklin & Marshall College and Associate Vice President for Development at University of Puget Sound. She will assume her duties on February 1.

“I am delighted that Beth will be devoting her considerable energy and expertise to Washington College's fundraising and relationship-building efforts,” said Baird Tipson, President of the College. “Beth brings with her twenty years of experience as a fundraiser and strategist, and I am confident she will provide valuable counsel as a member of the senior administration as we work together to ensure a bright future for the nation's tenth-oldest college.”

While at Franklin & Marshall, Herman solicited (or co-solicited) 25 gifts of $10,000 to $5 million, contributing to an overall net of $12.8 million in gifts for FY04, a 36 percent increase over the previous year and a new record for F&M. Prior to F&M, Herman served for a decade at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. As director of development and then associate vice president, she hired and trained development and advancement services staff, provided strategy and support for the president's major gift work, helped build the Board of Trustees, participated in the design and implementation of a national alumni relations program, and planned, conducted and successfully completed a six-year comprehensive campaign that raised $68.5 million, exceeding its goal by 37 percent.

Prior to the University of Puget Sound, Herman worked in development, annual giving and communications at the College of Forest Resources, University of Washington; University of Redlands; and the Charles Wright Academy. A Steuben Apple Award-winning speaker for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), she also has worked as a trainer and consultant for development staff and volunteers.

Herman is a 1984 graduate of the University of Washington, from which she holds a bachelor's degree in English and journalism. She is a published author and an avid equestrian who has written award-winning features for Equus, Insight Travel Guide and Flying Changes, the Northwest Sport Horse Magazine.

“This appointment is a great honor for me,” Herman said in accepting the position. “I was drawn to Washington College's historic strength in liberal arts education, its fine new leader, and its magical location in the state where I was born. I look forward to joining this college community and helping its alumni, parents, and friends make a lasting difference there.”