University of Illinois at Chicago Office of Public Affairs (MC 288)
601 S. Morgan St., Chicago, IL 60607-7113, (312) 996-3456, www.uic.edu/depts/paff

October 12, 2000

Contact: Amanda Mazur, (312) 996-7681, amazur@uic.edu

NEW CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER NAMED AT UIC

Roger W. (Whit) Shepard has been named associate chancellor for development at the University of Illinois at Chicago and vice president for the University of Illinois Foundation by UIC Chancellor Sylvia Manning and foundation President Sidney Micek. The appointment was approved today by the university's Board of Trustees.

Shepard, who has worked in development for almost 30 years, has been associate dean for external affairs at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business since 1995. During his tenure there, he and the dean successfully solicited the largest gift that school had ever received, $15 million from a single donor. Shepard oversaw all philanthropic activity of the business school, including major gifts, planned gifts and corporate and foundation relations. He developed strategy and managed more than 20 development officers and support staff.

"Whit's record of achievement in fundraising and development, as well as his proven leadership abilities, made him the ideal choice for this position," Manning said.

Micek said, "Whit's strong communication skills and ability to articulate goals and inspire support are essential to building upon the success UIC has experienced during Campaign Illinois." During the ongoing university-wide fundraising campaign, which was publicly launched in 1994, UIC has raised $328 million. The campaign has been extended through the end of this year.

Shepard will be responsible for the development function at UIC, Chicago's largest university with 25,000 students.

"I am very excited to be joining UIC during this time of fantastic opportunity,"Shepard said. "UIC is on the way to becoming the nation's premier urban research university, and I look forward to building on its recent successes and helping the university grow."

Prior to joining the University of Chicago, Shepard was vice president of development for the Chicago Botanic Garden. While there, he oversaw the Botanic Garden's annual campaign for unrestricted support, raising $1.3 million in one year.

Shepard has a long association with the Chicago area and some of its premier institutions. He has held positions with the Ravinia Festival Association, Lake Forest Hospital, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Shepard received his bachelor's degree from Yale University and a master of divinity degree from the Union Theological Seminary in New York City.

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