Today, Ohio University President M. Duane Nellis named Nico Karagosian as its new Vice President of University Advancement and President & CEO of The Ohio University Foundation.
Mr. Karagosian, who has more than 20 years of experience and comes to Ohio University most recently from the University of Cincinnati, will officially join the Advancement team on March 19, 2018.
“What I value most from my interactions with Nico is his understanding of the culture of philanthropy and building relationships in a thoughtful and strategic way that focuses on the academic mission of Ohio University,” said President Nellis. “Nico clearly shares the values of our institution, and I am excited to have him join our Bobcat Family.”
Mr. Karagosian has served in a variety of leadership positions at the University of Cincinnati Foundation, where he started in 2014 as the Associate Vice President of Principal Gifts and Campaign Manager. Karagosian was named Associate Vice President of Advancement and Deputy Campaign and Bicentennial Director in 2016 and was promoted to his current role of Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of the UC Bicentennial in 2017. In addition to managing all aspects of the university’s 200th anniversary celebration, Karagosian has also overseen donor relations, stewardship, special events and presidential initiatives for the foundation. He has additional experience working in higher education development at the University of South Florida and Monroe Community College; he has also facilitated charitable giving within the private sector.
“I am thrilled to be joining the outstanding team at OHIO as we work to develop and strengthen our philanthropy and alumni engagement efforts,” Karagosian said. “Ohio University has an amazing combination of a storied history and remarkable future. I was immediately impressed by the passion and commitment of alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students, and look forward to becoming part of the OHIO family.”
Some of Mr. Karagosian’s major professional accomplishments at the University of Cincinnati Foundation include helping secure $260 million in donations, pledges and gifts-in-kind in 2016, an institutional record $456 million in 2017 and a total of $1.174 billion since the campaign start on July 1, 2013. Additionally, he led the principal gift efforts resulting in nearly $75 million in donations to the university and academic health center in 2016, including three eight-figure gifts.
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Karagosian is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) who earned his MBA and MS in Health Administration from the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute. He earned his BA in English from Hobart College in Geneva, New York.