Shepard Succeeds Piva

Robert S. Shepard, director of development, will succeed retiring Duke senior vice president John J. Piva as Duke's chief alumni and development officer, effective July 1. Together, Piva and Shepard led the Campaign for Duke, which raised $2.36 billion between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2003, the largest fund-raising campaign in Duke history and the fifth-largest in the history of American higher education.

Piva, senior vice president for alumni affairs and development, will retire June 30, having served as the university's chief development officer since 1982. Shepard has managed the Office of University Development for the past nine years. In his new position, he will also be responsible for overseeing the Office of Alumni Affairs and the Office of Development. Together, the two offices comprise 120 staff members.

Shepard, who came to Duke as executive director of development in 1995, was named vice president for development in 1998. His new title will be vice president for alumni affairs and development.

President Nannerl O. Keohane praises Shepard and Piva as the "administrative backbone" of Duke's record-setting fund-raising success. "John Piva has long planned to step down at the end of our campaign. There is no one in higher education in this field more accomplished, more committed, and more capable, and no one knows more than I how much his leadership has meant to Duke's future," she says. "He is a remarkably persuasive person who helps all of us understand why philanthropy requires not only dollars, but also heart and vision. Everyone who cares about Duke is in his debt."

Shepard "has been a wonderful leader, developing the infrastructure for our campaign, leading the work of the Campaign Steering Committee, and coordinating our university-wide development team in making the overall plan a reality," says Keohane. "President-elect [Richard] Brodhead shares my enthusiasm--and that of the full board of trustees--for Bob Shepard's appointment."

Under Piva and Shepard's leadership, Duke has consistently ranked among the top ten in fund raising among U.S. universities, including approximately $297 million raised in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003.

"I am delighted Bob Shepard will become vice president for alumni affairs and development in July," says Michele Miller Sales '78, J.D. '81, president of the Duke Alumni Association. "Bob has a terrific appreciation of the value alumni add to Duke, and he understands the needs of the alumni association."

Before coming to Duke, Shepard was vice dean of external affairs at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts and Sciences, and associate director of the Campaign for Penn. He had been the chief development officer at Roosevelt University in Chicago. Shepard earned a doctorate at the University of Chicago and also holds degrees from the University of Iowa and Trinity College.