Florida State University’s head of fundraising is stepping down from her role after a three-and-a-half-year tenure, which includes the milestone of advancing a $65 million investment for the Herbert Wertheim College of Business.
Marla Vickers – the first woman to serve as FSU’s vice president for University Advancement and president of the FSU Foundation – will be resigning this summer after serving in the role since October 2022. A June 3 university release did not indicate if Vickers is leaving to accept another post. She was not immediately available for comment.
Details regarding interim leadership to take on the dual role are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, according to the university, and Vickers will remain in the position until her replacement is hired.
“Marla has provided exceptional leadership for University Advancement and the FSU Foundation during an important period for Florida State University,” FSU President Richard McCullough said in a statement. “As a Florida State graduate, she brought a deep understanding of this university and a genuine passion for its future.”
Vickers earned a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Georgia, a master’s degree in public history and historic administration from FSU and a master’s in business administration from George Washington University. The certified fundraising executive (CFRE) also holds a doctoral degree in education from Vanderbilt University.
“Returning to Florida State to serve my alma mater has been one of the great privileges of my career,” Vickers said in a prepared statement. “I am deeply grateful to President McCullough, our alumni, donors, volunteers, my team and colleagues throughout the university for their partnership and support.
“Together, we have strengthened the foundation for Florida State’s future, and I will always cherish the opportunity to be part of the university’s continued growth and success.”
While at FSU, Vickers helped solidify billionaire philanthropist Herbert Wertheim’s $65 million investment for the College of Business in December 2025.
It became the largest philanthropic endowment gift in the university’s history and the second-largest philanthropic gift FSU has ever received as it comes after a record $100 million made by Jan Moran and The Jim Moran Foundation in 2015, where part of the donation was used to create the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship.
Vickers also spearheaded philanthropic initiatives such as the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health and Human Sciences being named after Daves – an alumna of the university – in 2024. The designation marked it as the only named education-related college in Florida.
Although the donation is touted as being “among the most generous and transformational gifts ever given to an education-related college nationwide,” Daves requested that the exact amount remain confidential, an FSU spokesperson said.
It is unclear what Vickers’ next position will be following her resignation. While information about interim leadership will be shared in the coming weeks, the university also plans on launching a national search for its dual position of permanent vice president for University Advancement and president of the FSU Foundation.
Tarah Jean is the higher education reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat, a member of the USA TODAY Network – Florida. She can be reached at tjean@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @tarahjean_.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU VP for University Advancement, Foundation president to step down
Reporting by Tarah Jean, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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By Tarah Jean, Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
