New senior vice president to join staff in February

To oversee fund-raising activities for the university, a new senior vice president for university advancement was named Dec. 12.

For the past five years, Joanne B. Carr was the vice president for advancement at the University of Idaho.

She will begin at JMU in February, and her responsibilities will include supervising the development of alumni, marketing, media and parent relations, according to Fred Hilton, director of media relations.

Kathy Stafford, former senior vice president for advancement at JMU, resigned June 1, 2003. She became the vice president for university relations and development at Kent State University, according to Hilton.

Thomas E. Piazze Jr., associate vice president for development, has been the interim vice president since June, and will continue the stand-in position until Carr begins next month, Hilton said.

Carr's efforts at the University of Idaho resulted in record-setting levels of private fund raising and in the successful completion of a major capital campaign, according to a Dec. 12 press release.

"[Carr] will do an outstanding job and will be a great addition to the university," said Hilton. "Dr. Carr has the experience and ability to enable us to have great advances in that area (private fund raising)."

Carr led her former university to the completion of a $100 million campaign two years ahead of schedule, according to Hilton. Exceeding its goal, the campaign raised $128 million.