November 2005

CAMPUS NEWS

VP Checcio Leaving AU for Fordham

Vice President of University Relations Albert Checcio announced on October 31 that he is leaving AU to become vice president of Development and University Relations at Fordham University in New York.

During his nearly six years at AU, Checcio oversaw a reorganization of the university relations department and led the AnewAU campaign, which to date has raised more than half of its $200 million goal.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for this institution,” Checcio said. “It has been a pleasure working with so many talented people both on the development and university relations side. I’d like to thank acting president Neil Kerwin, Dr. Joni Comstock in athletics, and the deans for all the support they’ve shown the program in the last few years.”

Checcio said he is most proud of his role in consolidating the development programs, launching the AnewAU campaign and raising almost $110 million in a short period of time, and increasing the alumni participation rate. Kerwin praised Checcio for his accomplishments.

“Every major element of our development and university relations program has improved markedly during his tenure,” Kerwin said in a statement. “He has worked effectively with me, the vice presidents, and the deans to fashion an effective, decentralized approach to development that will serve the university well in the months and years ahead.  Most recently, he oversaw every element of the highly successful opening of our Katzen Arts Center and the best attended alumni event in recent memory. We will miss his intelligence, experience, skill, and dedication to American University.”

Checcio came to AU in 2000 from Temple University in Philadelphia, where he was vice president for development and alumni affairs. Over the course of his almost six-year tenure there, he reorganized the entire development program and increased cash giving by 94 percent, working with academic deans to develop and strengthen school-based programs.

Before working at Temple, Checcio’s previous positions include vice president for Development at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, director of the University of Pittsburgh’s $225 million capital campaign, assistant vice president for Development and director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for Drexel University, executive director of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Mid-Atlantic regional director of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He earned a bachelor of science degree in humanities and social science at Drexel.

-Mike Unger, originally published in American Weekly

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