Lacey, Washington
Saint Martin’s University seeks a strategic and innovative leader to serve as the next Vice President of Institutional Advancement (VPIA). The position is a direct report to President Bill Brownsberger, who assumed office July 1, 2024. As the chief advancement and development officer of the University, the VPIA provides strategic leadership for fundraising, alumni and donor relations, communications, and external partnerships to advance Saint Martin's mission, reputation, and long-term sustainability.
Saint Martin’s University is entering a period of growth and opportunity, grounded in a renewed commitment to form students for lives of meaning, purpose, and service to the common good. The VPIA will collaborate closely with the President, members of the Board of Trustees, deans and academic leaders, athletic leadership, and directors of key programs to identify funding priorities and cultivate donor relationships.
The VPIA serves as a key member of the President’s Executive Cabinet and provides strategic leadership for all aspects of Institutional Advancement, including philanthropy, alumni relations, community engagement, and external partnerships. This is an exceptional opportunity for an advancement leader who seeks to align professional excellence with a mission rooted in faith, community, and hope. Working closely with the President, Board of Trustees, the Benedictine monks of Saint Martin’s Abbey, academic deans, and senior administrators, the VPIA helps shape
advancement strategies that deepen the University’s Catholic mission and support its long-term goals.
In this mission-centered role, the VPIA builds enduring relationships with alumni, parents, corporate and foundation partners, government leaders, and friends of the University, inviting them into shared partnership in Saint Martin’s work. By fostering a culture of gratitude and generosity, the VPIA reinforces philanthropy as both a vital source of support and an expression of commitment to the common good.
Saint Martin’s University, located in Lacey, Washington, is one of 13 Benedictine colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, and the only one west of the Rocky Mountains. Established in 1895 by monks of the Roman Catholic Order of Saint Benedict, the University’s identity is rooted in the Catholic, Benedictine tradition and embraces the Order’s mission, vision, and values, providing a caring, transformative educational experience with the motto: To Lead with Heart.
A complete Leadership Profile with additional information may be found linked above.
AGB Search is pleased to assist Saint Martin’s University with this leadership search. To apply for the Vice President of Institutional Advancement position, candidates are requested to submit the following in PDF format:
For best consideration, applications should be submitted by February 13, 2026, to the AGB Search portal at https://bit.ly/4pxi0ko. The search will remain open until an appointment is made.
Nominations and expressions of interest in the VPIA position are encouraged. Please direct them to SaintMartinsVPIA@agbsearch.com or one of the AGB Search consultants listed below:
Kimberly Templeton
Principal
kimberly.templeton@agbsearch.com
(540)761-9494
Andrew Bowen
Executive Search Consultant
andrew.bowen@agbsearch.com
(802) 345-1279
Lynn DellaPietra
Executive Search Associate
lynn.dellapietra@agbsearch.com
(202)640-6723
The principles of the Catholic Benedictine tradition, equal employment opportunity, and nondiscrimination are fundamental to the mission, goals, and objectives of Saint Martin's University. The University does not discriminate in employment or in the delivery or administration of its educational programs, policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic or other University programs on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion (except as a bona fide occupational qualification for certain select positions), marital status, national or ethnic origin, military or veteran status, age, or disability. Equal opportunity in employment is governed by a variety of federal laws. The major applicable federal laws are Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Rehabilitation Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Equal Pay Act, and VEVRM. Collectively, these laws prohibit discrimination in all terms and conditions of employment - including hiring, compensation, training, promotion, and termination - based on race/ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, disability, veteran's status, and age. The majority of these laws are enforced by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, frequently known as the EEOC. In addition to those mentioned above, equal opportunity in higher education is also governed by Titles VI and IX. Like their employment law counterparts, these laws collectively prohibit discrimination in educational programs or activities based on race, national origin, and sex. These laws are enforced by a division of the Department of Education known as the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).