Skip to main content

Robert Shepard Reappointed VP for Development and Alumni Affairs

shepard012.jpg
Robert Shepard

Robert Shepard, who has led university development and alumni affairs since 2004, has been reappointed to another five-year term as vice president, Duke University President Richard H. Brodhead announced this week.

Shepard's reappointment came after a regular review by a panel of university faculty, alumni and administrators chaired by Susan Roth, vice provost for interdisciplinary affairs.  Senior officer appointments are renewed annually by the Board of Trustees with a full review after four years.

"Duke University is fortunate to have Bob Shepard as part of our leadership team," Brodhead said.  "With wisdom and a clear sense of Duke's mission, Bob sets the course for Duke's efforts to engage with our alumni and build support for our educational opportunities and research that contributes to the world."

Shepard joined Duke in 1995 as executive director of development and was appointed vice president of alumni affairs and development in 2004. Shepard oversees the Office of University Development, which manages all central fundraising activities, and the Office of Alumni Affairs, which serves the Duke Alumni Association's 135,000 members in more than 100 alumni clubs on six continents and publishes the award-winning Duke Magazine.

He is currently a leader in the $3.25 billion Duke Forward comprehensive campaign that will provide resources to help Duke continue its innovative leadership in teaching, research and patient care.

Previously, Shepard helped lead the Campaign for Duke, which raised $2.36 billion between 1996 and 2003, which at the time was the fifth-largest fund-raising campaign in the history of American higher education.

Shepard also oversaw Duke's successful Financial Aid Initiative. The initiative, begun in January 2005 raised more than $308 million.

Duke's annual fund-raising totals are among the nation's highest, and in 2012-13, the university set a new school record with $410.9 million in philanthropic contributions. The amount was a 17 percent increase over the 2011-12 fiscal year.