Thompson Named Sr. Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer

James D. Thompson has been named senior vice president and chief advancement officer for the University of Rochester.

Thompson, currently associate vice chancellor for development at Washington University in St. Louis, will begin at Rochester in September.

“I cannot overstate how delighted I am that Jim will be joining us,” said President Joel Seligman. “At Washington University, Jim held a pivotal leadership role in its recently completed $1.55 billion capital campaign. As his colleague at Washington University, I was very impressed by the high regard members of that academic community have had for Jim’s thoughtful and methodical approach to the art and science of fundraising.”

At Rochester, Thompson will oversee a newly invigorated effort, both within central administration and the academic divisions, to develop financial resources for the University.

Associate vice chancellor since 1997 and a development officer at Washington University since 1991, Thompson also has served as a senior director of university development at Syracuse University and as executive director of institutional development and college relations at Lindenwood College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree and then began his career.

At Washington University, Thompson built a comprehensive capital and major gifts program, including staff for major gifts, capital projects and campaigns, principal gifts, regional development programs, corporate and foundation relations, stewardship, prospect management, and donor relations. He served as the primary staff for the executive vice chancellor for The Campaign for Washington University. Among his other responsibilities, Thompson conceptualized and conducted 30 regional campaigns, raising over $300 million dollars, mostly from first time major donors, and recruited and managed a network of 600 regional campaign volunteers and 20 permanent regional cabinets with 450 volunteers.