A top fundraising official at the University of California at San Diego will succeed Kevin Conry, interim vice president for alumni and university relations, as head of Georgetown’s fundraising efforts, university officials announced Wednesday.
As vice president for alumni and university relations, the top post at the Office of Alumni and University Relations, James M. Langley will oversee all of the university’s attempts to reach out to alumni and other potential donors, including the development of a new capital campaign.
Langley said in a statement that he was excited to aid Georgetown in its efforts “to enhance its rich tradition of academic excellence and service to others.”
“I am confident that Jim will provide dynamic leadership to ensure the university’s ability to secure the philanthropic foundation necessary to sustain excellence and to achieve further ambitious aspirations in the years to come,” University President John J. DeGioia said in a press release.
Langley enters an office that has seen the departure of multiple high-ranking administrators in recent months. Michael Goodwin, former vice president for alumni and university relations, left Georgetown to accept a position as president and CEO of the Oregon State University Foundation in October. Shawn Scoville, a former assistant vice president to Goodwin, left for Oregon State in January.
The change in the administration of Georgetown’s main fundraising office comes at a time when the university remains heavily in debt. Fiscal problems have been particularly acute at the Medical Center, which has suffered layoffs and spending cuts after losing $333 million since fiscal year 1995. Top officials at the Medical Center have suggested that new staff layoffs will be taking place this week.
Some administrators and faculty have complained that budget cutbacks have restricted Georgetown’s ability to procure federal research grants and attract high-performing students with financial aid packages comparable to those of other prominent universities.
After its completion of the record $1 billion Third Century Campaign last January, Georgetown signaled its intent to embark on an even larger capital campaign, which would include new initiatives aimed at reforming the university’s undergraduate experience in order to attract donors.
Faculty and administrators said such initiatives could include mandatory seminars for all freshmen, increased research opportunities for undergraduates and expanded use of community service for class credit.
Langley comes to the Hilltop with a wide range of experience in university fundraising efforts. He oversaw a $1 billion fundraising campaign at the University of California and helped to triple the endowment of the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he served as vice president for external affairs from 1989 to 1998, according to a university press release.
Langley has received several professional awards and earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a master’s degree in British history from the University of Cincinatti.
Conry will return to his previous position as associate vice president at Georgetown’s Law Center in June.
