One of the University of Iowa’s top fundraisers is stepping down.
Lynette Marshall, president and CEO of the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, will retire at the end of the upcoming school year. The announcement ends her 20-year run as head of the school’s nonprofit that has collected billions in contributions from private donors.
The nonprofit Center for Advancement fields all of the private donations made to the university. Organizational offices are housed in the Levitt Center in Iowa City.
The center announced Marshall’s retirement on Wednesday, July 23. She’ll continue to serve in her role until the summer of 2026.
Marshall came to the UI in 2006 after 25 years at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, her alma mater. She oversaw a merger between the UI Alumni Association and UI Foundation in 2017 to form the Center for Advancement.
“Lynette has been a steadfast and visionary leader whose work has transformed how we engage with our alumni and supporters,” UI President Barbara Wilson said in a statement. “Her leadership has helped secure vital resources for our people and programs, and her legacy will continue to shape the university for generations to come.”
Marshall helped collect billions through various fundraising campaigns
Marshall led several fundraising campaigns during her tenure, including the multi-million effort to rebuild the UI arts campus after the 2008 floods.
She also stewarded the school’s “For Iowa. Forever More.” campaign in 2013, which raised nearly $2 billion for construction of the Stead Family Children’s Hospital, the Stanley Museum of Art and other projects.
Marshall is spearheading the university’s current fundraising campaign, Together Hawkeyes, which began in 2023 and is expected to raise $3 billion “for Iowa’s boldest aspirations.”
“It is the honor of a lifetime to serve Iowa and its incredible community of alumni, donors, and friends,” Marshall said in a release. “I have every confidence in the continued strength of our leadership team, the dedication of our staff, and the continued success of the Together Hawkeyes campaign. The future is bright for Iowa.”
(This story was updated to fix an inaccuracy.)
Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: University of Iowa Center for Advancement CEO and president retiring after 20-year run
Reporting by Ryan Hansen, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
