�ֲ���ý College President Clayton Spencer announced today that Vice President for College Advancement Sarah R. Pearson ’75, a nationally recognized leader in higher education fundraising and the architect of the record-setting �ֲ���ý Campaign, will retire on June 30, 2022, at the conclusion of the campaign.

“Ten years ago, I was thrilled when Sarah decided to return to her alma mater and take on the crucial role of leading fundraising and alumni engagement efforts at �ֲ���ý,” said Spencer. “She was well known in fundraising as a consummate strategist, and she saw the future as an opportunity for �ֲ���ý to become stronger. Combining her considerable experience and deep devotion to �ֲ���ý with her seemingly boundless energy and optimism, Sarah led the design and execution of the largest and most successful fundraising campaign in the college’s history. As a new president, I could not have asked for a better guide in the art of fundraising or a better partner in our shared work on behalf of �ֲ���ý.” 

Through the end of the fiscal year on June 30, Spencer added, “Sarah will focus her energies on the successful conclusion of the �ֲ���ý Campaign,” turning over management of advancement to Associate Vice President Eric Foushee, who will become acting vice president for college advancement on July 1.

“It has been a great privilege to serve the institution I have loved since the day I arrived on campus in September 1971,” said Pearson, who was an honors major in theater at �ֲ���ý and earned an M.F.A. from Brandeis University. “I am grateful for the support of the college, the �ֲ���ý Board of Trustees, as well as the many alumni, parents, and friends who have made this a remarkable and memorable closing chapter to my career. I want to give special thanks to my colleagues in College Advancement and, finally, to my son and daughter, Ben and Liz Balcom, for their endless love and support throughout my career.”

“�ֲ���ý is stronger now thanks to the work of Sarah Pearson and her team in College Advancement,” said John D. Gillespie ’80, chair of the �ֲ���ý College Board of Trustees who serves as co-chair of the �ֲ���ý Campaign. “Viewed through the lens of our charge as a board, which is to protect and strengthen the college’s generational ability to offer the highest quality liberal arts education possible, Sarah represents the best of that imperative, with her robust leadership, clear vision, and unerring sense of the right direction forward. Speaking personally as a fellow �ֲ���ý graduate, I feel great pride in what we’ve accomplished together.”

During Pearson’s tenure at �ֲ���ý, annual fundraising has nearly tripled, from $12 million in fiscal 2013 to $34.2 million in fiscal 2021. In shaping a new strategy for fundraising at �ֲ���ý, Pearson and her team played a central role in translating the goals of the college’s Institutional Plan into a set of compelling fundraising priorities, which were presented to the college community at the public launch of the �ֲ���ý Campaign in May 2017 with a goal of $300 million.

Sitting squarely at the center of the campaign’s goal of Investing in Opportunity, the college announced a $100 million fundraising partnership with the Schuler Education Foundation in 2021. Kicked off with the foundation’s challenge grant of $50 million to �ֲ���ý, to be matched dollar for dollar by �ֲ���ý donors, the Schuler Access Initiative will enable the college to increase the number of talented students from America’s lowest-income families. To date, more than $34 million has been raised from �ֲ���ý donors to meet that challenge.

With a focus on the future of higher education philanthropy, Pearson has led the college’s involvement in a strategic partnership, also supported by the Schuler Education Foundation, with five leading national liberal arts colleges to research and address declining rates of giving among the large demographic cohort known as millennials.

Pearson has led College Advancement’s significant investment in reimagining the range and goals of the college’s engagement programs, including Reunion programming and the �ֲ���ý Alumni MOSAIC program, which builds community among underrepresented racial, ethnic, LGBTQIA+, first-generation college, and international alumni. Throughout Pearson’s tenure, signature college events in cities around the world regularly set attendance records.

In a 42-year career in higher education, Pearson has served as chief development officer at the Broad Institute at Harvard and MIT and as vice president for alumni relations and development at Northwestern University. During her tenure at Northwestern, total university giving increased from $138 million to $235 million annually. Pearson also held leadership positions at the University of Chicago, Cornell, and Harvard.

In her service to the field of advancement nationally, Pearson has served on the board of trustees of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education International and chair of the CASE Philanthropy Commission. Characterized as a “creative strategist,” she was among 10 leaders featured in Making the Case for Leadership: Profiles of Chief Advancement Officers in Higher Education. She has taught at numerous CASE conferences including serving as chair for the CASE Summer Institute in Educational Fundraising, the largest institute for new advancement professionals.

Prior to her appointment as �ֲ���ý vice president for college advancement, Pearson served for four years on the Board of Trustees, co-chairing the college’s advancement committee and was co-chair of the �ֲ���ý Fund, charged with overseeing strategic and tactical objectives for the college’s annual giving program.

�ֲ���ý alumni, parents, and friends contributed $28 million to the college during the fiscal year ending June 30.

“I want to express deep appreciation to all who chose to invest in �ֲ���ý this past year,” said Sarah R. Pearson ’75, vice president for college advancement.

“This level of giving, during the first full public year of The �ֲ���ý Campaign, reflects the pride felt by our alumni, parents, and friends as well as the excitement they feel about the direction of the college. I am especially grateful to the more than 500 volunteers who supported the fundraising effort this year.”

The annual �ֲ���ý Fund total includes $810,000 through the Friends of �ֲ���ý Athletics. Men's cross country runners Henry Raff '22 (center) of Hailey, Idaho, and Tucker Barber '21 (right) of Wilton, Maine, compete at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester on Sept. 15, 2018. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/�ֲ���ý College)

The Class of 1993 broke three giving records for a 25th Reunion class, including most dollars, besting a record set 13 years ago. Here, the class struts its stuff during the Alumni Parade on June 9, 2018. (Jonathan Reece for �ֲ���ý College)

The Class of 2018 had an 84 percent participation rate for their Senior Gift — the highest since 2014. This newly minted alumna, among 473 seniors receiving degrees on May 27, 2018, brandishes her diploma. (Rene Roy for �ֲ���ý College)

Total yearly giving to �ֲ���ý has more than doubled since 2013. "I am so grateful for the support and engagement shown by �ֲ���ý alumni, parents, and friends,” said President Clayton Spencer, seen at Commencement on May 27, 2018, with honorand Lynsey Addario and speaker Bryan Stevenson. (Theophil Syslo/�ֲ���ý College)

�ֲ���ý giving in 2018 included $10.87 million to the college’s endowment. Here, Matt Jadud, who holds the newly endowed Colony Family Professorship in Digital and Computational Studies, offers his talk as the inaugural Colony Professor on March 22, 2018. (Rene Roy for �ֲ���ý College)

Total giving to �ֲ���ý from all sources in 2018 was $28,050,875 including $10.87 million to the college’s endowment. Total yearly giving to �ֲ���ý has more than doubled since 2013.

Forty-five percent of alumni made gifts, a level of participation that places �ֲ���ý among the top U.S. undergraduate liberal arts colleges. Thirty-four percent of �ֲ���ý parents made gifts.

The �ֲ���ý Campaign now stands at $190 million in gifts and pledges toward a goal of $300 million.

Gifts to the �ֲ���ý Fund totaled $7.1 million including $810,000 through the Friends of �ֲ���ý Athletics. The �ֲ���ý Fund is a key component of The �ֲ���ý Campaign and provides real-time support for financial aid, faculty and academic programs, student life, and the arts.

Launched with public celebrations in May 2017, the multiyear �ֲ���ý Campaign now stands at $190 million in gifts and pledges toward a goal of $300 million.

“I am so grateful for the support and engagement shown by �ֲ���ý alumni, parents, and friends,” said President Clayton Spencer. “The steady increase in yearly giving enables us to enliven the current student experience even as we strengthen the future of the college by building the endowment. Thank you.”

During fiscal 2018, alumni celebrating their five-year Reunions helped push the �ֲ���ý Fund to new heights. Overall, this year’s 14 Reunion classes, from 1948 to 2013, contributed nearly one out of every five dollars given to the �ֲ���ý Fund. Reunion 2018 was also the best-attended in college history, with 1,277 attendees.

“To the hundreds of alumni and parent volunteers who support the �ֲ���ý Fund effort in so many ways: Thank you.”

The Reunion Class of 1993 broke three records for a 25th Reunion class: highest attendance rate (32 percent), most �ֲ���ý Fund dollars raised ($253,293, besting a record set 13 years ago), and highest �ֲ���ý Fund participation rate (66 percent).

“The Class of 1993’s efforts are amazing — and illustrative of the great work that our volunteers do and the generous response by �ֲ���ý alumni,” Pearson said. “To the hundreds of alumni and parent volunteers who support the �ֲ���ý Fund effort in so many ways: Thank you. Your help and support are invaluable.”

The college’s newest alumni, the Class of 2018, completed their Senior Gift effort with 84 percent participation — the highest participation rate since 2014 — and a class gift of $13,950. �ֲ���ý trustee Lisa Barry ’77 and the College Key provided special challenges to the class as it completed its gift campaign.

Gifts by �ֲ���ý donors totaling a record $28.2 million in fiscal 2016 have "given us great confidence in setting ambitious goals for �ֲ���ý’ future," said President Spencer. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/�ֲ���ý College)

The 2016 Reunion classes contributed more than $900,000 to the �ֲ���ý Fund. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/�ֲ���ý College)

The Class of 2016 joined the �ֲ���ý Fund with 76 percent participation in the traditional Senior Gift. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/�ֲ���ý College)

The �ֲ���ý Fund total includes Parents Fund contributions of $1.1 million with 38 percent participation. (Josh Kuckens/�ֲ���ý College)

Annual giving to the �ֲ���ý Fund topped $6.5 million to support academic, athletic, co-curricular, and financial aid programs. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/�ֲ���ý College)

�ֲ���ý alumni, parents, and friends contributed a college-record $28.2 million during the fiscal year ending June 30, an increase of 134 percent since 2013.

“It’s thrilling to share news of a record-breaking year of philanthropy by alumni, parents, and friends. Their generosity is extraordinary and exemplifies pride in community and commitment to the college,” said Sarah R. Pearson ’75, vice president for college advancement.

“I am deeply grateful to everyone who made �ֲ���ý a priority this year. I’m especially grateful to the more than 450 alumni and parents who supported this effort as tireless volunteers.”

“Great confidence in setting ambitious goals for �ֲ���ý’ future.”

Giving to �ֲ���ý has increased 30 percent or more in each of the last three fiscal years — more than doubling since fiscal 2013, the initial year of Clayton Spencer’s presidency.

“Those who know and love �ֲ���ý have invested in the college to a remarkable degree, and we are profoundly grateful,” Spencer said. “The generosity and support of our alumni, parents, and friends have enabled extraordinary progress over the past four years, and given us great confidence in setting ambitious goals for �ֲ���ý’ future.”

Total giving to �ֲ���ý from all sources in 2016 was $28,155,471, with $13 million designated to the endowment. The $28.2 million breaks the previous annual dollar record of $24.8 million, reached in 2006.

With 47 percent alumni participation, annual giving to the �ֲ���ý Fund totaled $6.53 million, passing the goal for the year to support academic, athletic, co-curricular, and financial aid programs. The �ֲ���ý Fund total includes Parents Fund contributions of $1.13 million with 38 percent participation. In addition, gifts to the �ֲ���ý Fund through the Friends of �ֲ���ý Athletics exceeded $609,000.

The 15 classes that celebrated �ֲ���ý Reunions in 2016 contributed more than $900,000 to the �ֲ���ý Fund during the year, while the college’s youngest alumni, the members of the Class of 2016, celebrated their graduation from �ֲ���ý with 76 percent participation in the Senior Gift campaign.

“Giving to �ֲ���ý has an impact on every aspect of the college experience,” Pearson said. “On behalf of the entire campus community, I offer my gratitude. It’s been a remarkable year, and we are truly thankful.”