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Leonard R. Raley Appointed President and CEO

of The University System of Maryland Foundation, Inc.

 

Adelphi, Md. (October 11, 2005) - Leonard R. Raley has been appointed president and CEO of The University System of Maryland Foundation, Inc. (USMF), effective December 2005. Currently executive director of The Ohio University Foundation and vice president for advancement at Ohio University, Raley will bring more than 25 years of experience in higher-education fund raising to USMF.

"We are extremely pleased that Leonard Raley has accepted this position," said USMF Board Chair Raymond LaPlaca in announcing the appointment. "He has proven to be an effective leader and manager in competitive fund-raising and investment environments. He also has an exceptional track record in raising money to support higher education."

The University System of Maryland Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation separate from the University System of Maryland (USM). It receives, manages, and administers donations given to support one or more of the university system's 13 institutions. Currently, the foundation has net assets totaling $292 million. However, it oversees the investments of some $680 million, which includes its own assets and those of other affiliated foundations within USM.

As president and CEO, Raley will manage all foundation assets and supervise its programs and activities. Fully supported by non-state USMF funding, Raley also will serve as the system's vice chancellor for advancement, providing leadership in building greater philanthropic support for Maryland's public university system.

"I have known Leonard for many years," said William E. Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland. "He has earned a well-deserved reputation as an outstanding development professional. As the system's chief fund-raising officer, Leonard will provide the kind of leadership necessary to ensure success with our efforts to build greater philanthropic support for our system institutions. Philanthropy will play an even larger role in helping us advance USM's excellence in education, research, and scholarship and we are very fortunate to have a person like Leonard in such a crucial position."

As executive director of the The Ohio University Foundation and vice president for university advancement since 1997, Raley manages $226 million in assets. Under his capable leadership, Ohio University completed its bicentennial campaign in 2004, exceeding its $200-million goal by more than 10 percent.

Before joining Ohio University, Raley served as assistant vice president for development at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), where he provided leadership, planning, and direction for the quiet phase of the university's $350-million campaign. At UMCP for 12 years, from 1985 to 1997, Raley also served as executive director of the university's alumni association and as director of alumni programs.

Raley began his career in higher education at Towson University, serving in the Office of Admissions from 1978 to 1981, and as director of alumni services from 1981 to 1985.

Active in professional and community organizations, Raley is national chair of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education's Educational Fund-Raising Awards Committee and a member of the council's Committee on Institutionally-Related Foundations. He also is treasurer of the Athens County (Ohio) United Appeal Board of Directors. In 1996, the University of Maryland Alumni Association named Raley as an Honorary Alumnus.

An alumnus of two USM institutions, Raley has an MBA from the University of Baltimore and a bachelor's degree from Towson University. He and his wife, Suzanne, have two daughters, Elyse, 19, and Allison, 16.

Raley will succeed Susan Carroll Schwab who has served as president of the USM Foundation, Inc., since 2004. President George W. Bush on October 7 nominated Schwab to be Deputy United States Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador.

Contact: Anne Moultrie

301.445.2722
E-mail: amoultrie@usmd.edu