The University’s head fundraiser resigned from her position Wednesday, leaving GW with an interim head of its Development and Alumni Relations departments as it ramps up efforts to fund several expensive projects.
University President Steven Knapp, who said fundraising and alumni relations were some of his top priorities when he took office in 2007, announced Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Laurel Price Jones’ resignation in an Infomail sent to the University community Wednesday evening. Price Jones had stayed with the University through the summer after her contract expired to help GW plan a leadership retreat, Knapp said.
In addition to raising money for additional financial aid, GW is the midst of developing a plan to fund the proposed $300 million Science and Engineering Complex, the most expensive project in GW history.
In the Infomail, Knapp highlighted Price Jones’ successes with raising the bar for GW’s fundraising efforts.
“I would like to thank Laurel Price Jones for providing me with indispensable help and counsel during my transition into the GW presidency,” Knapp said in the Infomail. “We have all benefited from her dedicated efforts, and I know you will want to join me in wishing her well in her future endeavors.”
Knapp said in an e-mail interview that he did not anticipate any change in the structure of the University’s fundraising program.
“Under Vice President Price Jones’s leadership, we recruited new leaders and staff for alumni relations and international development, and we began to increase staff support for the fund-raising efforts of the deans,” Knapp said. “Our efforts on all those fronts will continue.”
John Kudless, the current associate vice president for principal gifts, will serve as an interim vice president, Knapp said in the Infomail.
Kudless, like Knapp, previously worked at Johns Hopkins University, and served as its executive director of principal gifts before coming to GW in 2007.
Price Jones declined to comment Wednesday evening.
Emily Cahn contributed to this report.
