Insider appointed as LU's new advancement officer

Tracy MacLeod has been appointed Laurentian University's chief advancement officer, leading alumni relations and development.

A proud alumna of Laurentian University, MacLeod is a highly motivated, results-oriented Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), with 20 years of experience in advancement portfolios at three Ontario universities, a press release said.

“I am thrilled to be able to count on Tracy’s exceptional leadership as we continue to engage alumni in a meaningful way, and set even more ambitious fundraising goals in the coming years to accelerate the University’s momentum,” said Laurentian president Dominic Giroux.

Since 2004, MacLeod has been serving as director of development and campaign director at Laurentian University, where she successfully led staff and volunteers to raise more than $65 million through The Next 50 Campaign, the largest fundraising campaign in the history of Northern Ontario.

Most recently, she has been acting chief advancement officer since the incumbent Tamás (Tom) Zsolnay moved to the University of Victoria after 11 years of distinguished service leading Advancement at Laurentian University.

“The Laurentian University Alumni Association was pleased to be involved in the recruitment process for our new Chief Advancement Officer,” said Diane Côté-Mihalek, president of the Laurentian University Alumni Association (LUAA).

“We are excited to have a proud Laurentian graduate leading this portfolio and look forward to working with Tracy in continuing the implementation of the association’s 2011-2016 Strategic Plan.”

MacLeod worked in Advancement at Laurentian University from 1994 to 1997, at Queen’s University from 1997 to 1998, and at Nipissing University from 1998 to 2004, culminating in the role of manager of Alumni Relations and Development at Nipissing University. In 2013, she completed the Senior University Administrators Course from the Centre for Higher Education Research and Development.

“We are lucky to have Tracy fill this important role at Laurentian. Fundraising efforts are transforming the University,” said Jamie Wallace, honorary chair of Laurentian’s record-breaking Next 50 Campaign.

“With the leadership of Tracy, Dominic and so many generous supporters, we will continue to achieve great momentum.”

In 2011, MacLeod was one of the recipients of Sudbury’s Top 40 Under 40 Awards. She is currently serving as president of the Northeastern Ontario Fundraising Professionals Association.

In 2006, she was the recipient of the Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education. She served as treasurer and vice-president of the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education – Ontario, as director of the board of the Centre communautaire de Lavigne Community Centre and as an active member of the Rotary Club of Sudbury Sunrisers.

“It is truly an honour for me to be appointed Chief Advancement Officer. I look forward to working with the incredible team at Laurentian to strengthen relationships with alumni and build new partnerships that will enhance opportunities for students and the communities we serve,” said MacLeod.