In the middle of its $200 million Changing Lives for the World comprehensive campaign, Bowling Green State University is changing leadership in a key position.
President Rodney Rogers announced Friday that Shea McGrew, vice president for university advancement and president of the BGSU Foundation, “will be leaving the University to pursue new opportunities.”
In the letter to the campus community, Rogers wrote: “Shea has been instrumental in the success of our campaign and in strengthening our alumni engagement and outreach. I thank him for his hard work and service to the University over the last five years.
The campaign has raised more than half its goal.
Today (Monday, March 26) Rogers announced that Dr. Bill Balzer has been appointed to serve as interim vice president for University Advancement and president of the BGSU Foundation. Also, Mike Kuhlin, who is chair-elect of the BGSU Foundation Board, will serve in an advisory role to the president on the campaign.
Kuhlin has a long career with AT&T and Ameritech retiring as senior director of corporate relations. Part of his role was guiding the company’s philanthropy. After retiring from Ameritech, he worked as a communications and development consultant for a number of national companies. For five years, he was the director of corporate, foundation and government support for Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Kuhlin, a 1986 journalism graduate from BGSU, provided the lead donation for the Michael and Sara Kuhlin Center.
Rogers wrote that the search for a permanent replacement for McGrew will begin immediately. Cecilia Castellano, vice provost for strategic enrollment planning, will chair the search committee. The university has retained Issacson and Miller, a well-known national search firm, to help with the search.
Balzer is currently vice president for academic affairs and strategic initiatives. He will retain his current duties. He is the former Dean of BGSU Firelands.
“His focus in the coming months will be to oversee and, where appropriate, improve organizational structure and processes in University Advancement to ensure that we’re in a strong position to welcome the division’s next leader,” Rogers wrote.
As adviser to Rogers, Kuhlin will serve on the search committee and as a liaison with the Foundation Board “to continue and accelerate our momentum on our comprehensive campaign so that we will meet and exceed our goal,” Rogers wrote. “He will also be working with Chief of Staff Lisa Mattiace and me on the outreach and cultivation of major prospects.”
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