Leonard Raley, assistant vice president for development at the University of Maryland at College Park, begins in July as Ohio University's new vice president for development and chief fund-raising officer, succeeding Jack Ellis. Ellis retired in June after 30 years of service to Ohio University, including 28 years as the university's chief development officer and 25 years directing the Ohio University Foundation.
Raley also will serve as executive director of the OU Foundation, which uses income from its $100 million endowment from private contributions to fund scholarships, endowed chairs and other enhancements.
At Maryland, Raley played a major role in increasing the school's private fund raising from an annual average of $18 million six years ago to more than $40 million each of the past two years. He worked at Maryland for 12 years, including five years as executive director of the Alumni Association, five years as assistant vice president for institutional advancement and five months as acting vice president for institutional advancement.
Raley, the top choice of four finalists recommended by a 12-member search committee, was executive director of the Towson (Md.) State University Alumni Association for four years before heading to Maryland.
"Leonard Raley brings to Ohio University extensive development experience from a major institution, and I feel very fortunate and pleased to attract him to Athens," said President Robert Glidden.
"No one is going to be replacing Jack Ellis. I will be following him," Raley said. "Ohio University has a long, established track record of private philanthropy, and that excites me."
