Liesl Downey has been named Northeastern Illinois University’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the Northeastern Illinois University Foundation.
Downey, who previously served as the executive director for the Office of Development, had been serving as the acting vice president since the summer of 2015.
Downey’s primary responsibility will be her oversight of the University’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign. Northeastern is in the early stages of a five-year effort to raise funds for creating extraordinary scholarship support and exceptional learning environments.
“Her appointment provides leadership, continuity and momentum for Northeastern’s first campaign,” President Sharon Hahs said. “As state support dwindles, it is more critical than ever to expand scholarship support and provide important learning and teaching opportunities.”
In her service as acting vice president for Institutional Advancement, Downey has recently closed five endowed gifts, including Daniel L. Goodwin’s historic pledge. Downey, who has more than 15 years of experience in all aspects of institutional advancement, came to Northeastern in 2009, when she was hired as the director of Development.
