Southeast names vice president of university advancement

For nearly four years, William Holland has been working in St. Louis to build relationships with alumni, donors and corporate leaders for Southeast Missouri State University.

The university's director of corporate relations will now move to Cape Girardeau to continue his work on a larger scale as the vice president of university advancement.

"It's a similar role, but it's a broader role," Holland said.

Holland will also be executive director of the university foundation, which manages funds raised from private sources.

Wayne Smith stepped down from the vice president position in October to become vice president of development and administrative services at Saint Francis Medical Center. He had served in the position for four years.

During the division of advancement's transition, Dr. Gerald McDougall, dean of the college of business, served as the interim vice president of university advancement and director of the university foundation. Holland also split his time between Southeast's St. Louis office and the Cape Girardeau campus serving as interim executive director of development.

Holland's vice president appointment is effective July 15.

"His knowledge of fundraising and marketing and the many relationships he has already established will be invaluable to him as he transitions to the vice president position," said Southeast president Dr. Ken Dobbins in a release announcing the appointment.

McDougall said Holland's work helped bring alumni back to campus to discuss contemporary business practices with Southeast students.

"He had a tremendous success in connecting with alumni that reside in the greater St. Louis area," he said.

Holland worked for Southwestern Bell Corp. for 18 years and was vice president of human resources for John Volpi and Co., a St. Louis meat producer, before coming to the university.

Holland said he tried to raise the university's profile in the competitive university market of St. Louis. He said he started alumni groups and held alumni events to maintain university relationships and help bring in future generations of students.

"Your priorities and interests naturally evolve and what we want to do is maintain connections with people once they hit their late 20s and 30s," he said.

Holland also brought alumni and corporate leaders to campus for an executive forum series.

In his new role, he will work with the president and the foundation to manage the university's strategic marketing, fundraising and alumni services.

"We want to maintain our reputation as a quality institution for people to seek educational opportunities," he said. "And to do that we have to have a broad-based approach to the community and the region as a whole."

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

One University Plaza Cape Girardeau, MO