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Emory welcomes two new associate vice presidents for development and alumni relations

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Emory University has appointed Bill Kotti and Mathwon Howard, two seasoned fundraising professionals with a combined 40 years of development experience, as associate vice presidents to the senior leadership team of the Division of Development and Alumni Relations.

Kotti will join Emory Oct. 1 and will lead the development efforts of Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Oxford College, Goizueta Business School, Emory Law, Candler School of Theology, Laney Graduate School, Campus Life and Parent Philanthropy.

He is currently the president of the Medical College of Virginia Foundation, where he serves as chief development officer for the seven schools and affiliated hospitals for the medical campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. His success in this role includes implementing an integrated development program that has resulted in substantial increases in the school's major gift pipeline.

Previously Kotti spent six years honing his strategic leadership and development analytic skills at The Johns Hopkins University, most recently as the associate dean for resource planning and development of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, where he led that school's team to raise $334 million (surpassing the $250 million goal) in the $3.4 billion "Knowledge for the World" campaign.

"Bill's record of achievement will position him to quickly make an impact at Emory," says Susan Cruse, senior vice president for development and alumni relations, "and the scope and depth of his experience working at three major research universities will serve him well here.

Kotti holds a bachelor of arts in political science, a master of public administration, and a doctor of philosophy in higher education administration from the University of South Carolina.

Howard, who will assume his new role Sept. 15, will provide development leadership for the Michael C. Carlos Museum; Emory Libraries and Information Technology; the Offices of Development Communications, Foundation and Corporate Relations, and Gift Planning; and other central development programs.

"Mathwon's metrics-driven fundraising success, coupled with his strong central function management experience, will spur creative collaboration in support of Emory's philanthropic objectives," Cruse says.

Howard joins the Emory team from Duke University, where as director of major gifts he was responsible for all aspects of Duke's regional major gifts program. In that capacity he led a team of development officers and helped roll out "Duke Forward," a comprehensive fundraising campaign with a $3.25 billion goal.

He was involved in all phases of campaign planning and execution, including recruiting and managing volunteer leadership, conducting feasibility studies, securing major and principal gifts, and bringing momentum to the campaign with events throughout the United States.

Before his tenure at Duke, Howard served as assistant vice president for development at Binghamton University Foundation, where he was responsible for a successful major gifts program in the "Bold. Brilliant. Binghamton" campaign. He holds a bachelor of arts in leadership and public administration from Adrian College.


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