New major gifts officer for athletics announced.

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:23 pm

Per J.D. Campbell's release.

"Bowling Green State University Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Greg Christopher has announced that Mary Ellen Gillespie has been named Director of Major Gifts for Intercollegiate Athletics and will work on the program's behalf in the BGSU Foundation.

"Mary Ellen has a proven track record and will be a great addition to our external relations team," said Christopher. "Her energy and enthusiasm will help us reach aggressive goals as we position BGSU to continue to be a leader among MAC schools in the future."

Gillespie, a native of Sayville, N.Y., comes to BGSU from Purdue University where she was the Director of Development for the Schools of Nursing and Health Sciences. Under her direction, she was able to cultivate, solicit and steward major gift donors within the seven-year, $1.5 billion comprehensive campaign structure, raising over $5 million in fourteen months during her tenure.

"I have been a lifelong sports fan and I am excited to have the opportunity to work with an intercollegiate athletic program with such rich history and tradition." said Gillespie. I strongly believe in the concept of the student-athlete and competition and what it does to bring the student body and University community together."

Prior to her position at Purdue, Gillespie served as Vice President of Advancement for the North-American Interfraternity Conference in Indianapolis from 2000-2005. She also was Assistant Director of Student Life at the University of Iowa from 1998 to 2000 and served as Coordinator of Greek Affairs and Off-Campus Concerns at Plattsburgh State University of New York.

She earned her bachelors degree in speech communication from Plattsburgh State in 1994 and her masters in counseling-student affairs practice from the same institution in 1997. She also earned a certificate in fund raising management from the Indiana University Fund Raising School in May of 2002.

During her time in Indianapolis, she was heavily involved as a volunteer for the Indiana Sports Corporation. She served as a team host for the 2005 first and second rounds of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament and was part of the greeting and information team for the Big Ten when they held their basketball tournaments in Indianapolis. Gillespie also was a host for the NCAA Woman Athlete of the Year in 2003 and 2004.

"I look forward to being part of the team that will work to advance our program by ensuring that our student-athletes have the scholarships necessary to enhance their educational and athletic experiences, as well as the best, state of the art facilities." added Gillespie. "

BGSUFootballFan · Post by **BGSUFootballFan** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:30 pm

Boiler up.. TOOT TOOT! Wait.. I mean go Falcons! But I love all of the links between the 2 schools!

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 10:08 pm

Sounds to me like an indication of what our new AD's mandate really is. Granted on the surface, we all heard the basic reasons he was hired. Beyond that, we have all wondered exactly what course was he expected to set, what was the goal the administration had in mind when they hired him.

For my part, I've thought we were in need of a "war time consigliere." Somebody that would be a fast moving, barn-storming fund raiser and "doer."

Krebs was the administrative expert we needed, and its that foundation with which we needed to move onto a more aggressive, pro-active footing.

With her addition, it seems like the AD is preparing to move ahead with projects and plans. She is here because she can rake in major money with speed. Pure and simple. She is not here to go after little fish.

All this in-turn points to much more aggressive efforts. Towards what end, who knows yet. But we may see the kind of efforts BGSU's community hasn't seen before.

Finally, this also means the young buck is done learning the lay of the land, and intends to start putting his mark on BGSU athletics. The tone of the hire indicates he isn't thinking in small or conservative terms that would have fit Falcons athletics in the past.

I don't think the changes are done just yet either, though not all will involve development.

JoeFalcon · Post by **JoeFalcon** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:16 am

NWLB wrote:Sounds to me like an indication of what our new AD's mandate really is. Granted on the surface, we all heard the basic reasons he was hired. Beyond that, we have all wondered exactly what course was he expected to set, what was the goal the administration had in mind when they hired him.

For my part, I've thought we were in need of a "war time consigliere." Somebody that would be a fast moving, barn-storming fund raiser and "doer."

Krebs was the administrative expert we needed, and its that foundation with which we needed to move onto a more aggressive, pro-active footing.

With her addition, it seems like the AD is preparing to move ahead with projects and plans. She is here because she can rake in major money with speed. Pure and simple. She is not here to go after little fish.

All this in-turn points to much more aggressive efforts. Towards what end, who knows yet. But we may see the kind of efforts BGSU's community hasn't seen before.

Finally, this also means the young buck is done learning the lay of the land, and intends to start putting his mark on BGSU athletics. The tone of the hire indicates he isn't thinking in small or conservative terms that would have fit Falcons athletics in the past.

I don't think the changes are done just yet either, though not all will involve development.

Great post. The more aggressive, the better.

I may be mistaken, but I assume this was the position previously held by Dick Waring.

OptionQB · Post by **OptionQB** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:33 am

Having familiarity with Purdue and Bowling Green and some of the people, I know, it sounds like Mr. Christopher is taking the proper steps to put into place a fund-raising machine that is very similar to the John Purdue Club that he headed up in West Lafayette, which actually funds the entire athletic department budget at Purdue.

If successful this is a very big step for us in making facility upgrades, improving coaching salaries and the like.

aaronBG10 · Post by **aaronBG10** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:03 am

Thats a heck of a last name if i do say so myself!

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:48 am

OptionQB wrote:Having familiarity with Purdue and Bowling Green and some of the people, I know, it sounds like Mr. Christopher is taking the proper steps to put into place a fund-raising machine that is very similar to the John Purdue Club that he headed up in West Lafayette, which actually funds the entire athletic department budget at Purdue.

If successful this is a very big step for us in making facility upgrades, improving coaching salaries and the like.

I agree...and we sure need it. Great news.