(Posted August 2, 2004)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - Juniata College officials have announced that Thomas Ritchey has been appointed associate vice president for development effective immediately.

"Tom has had exceptional experience and success at every job he has held. He is uniquely positioned to take Juniata to the next level of fund-raising," says Thomas Kepple, president of Juniata College. "We are currently finishing a monumental $100 million capital campaign, and Tom will help us complete that and build toward other goals."

Ritchey, who holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive designation, has served major gift programs in higher education, the arts, health care, and human services. As vice president, he directed advancement and major fund-raising for the Pittsburgh Symphony, growing annual support to more than $3 million, and directing its $60 million campaign. Previously as vice president and executive director of UPMC-Shadyside Hospital and Foundation, he was responsible for fund raising, volunteer development, marketing, and communications. Most recently, he has been associate executive director of the Lighthouse Foundation, a mission serving over 7,000 individuals annually.
He has consulted with and directed capital campaigns for numerous charitable organizations including community centers, Y's, an international mission agency, a regional library, churches, the United Way, and community foundations. He designed and implemented a funding model for the Billy Graham Association, that recognizes and continues utilizing his work as the singularly outstanding campaign over 50 years of presenting crusade events.

Ritchey earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Westminster College, in New Wilmington, Pa. He earned master's degree from Bowling Green State University, and has completed his doctoral course studies at Penn State University.

His academic development experience includes serving as senior executive director of development at the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering and Penn State's Smeal College of Business Administration. Ritchey began his career as executive director of the Westminster College Alumni Association and then as director of development for Rhodes College, Memphis, Tenn.

He twice has been part of CASE Gold Medal development teams, recognized as the nation's top development program, and has chaired the CASE Conference for Newcomers in Advancement and the American Symphony Orchestra League Planned Giving Conference.

He has been a member and past trustee of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and Planned Giving Council . He serves as a trustee for the Westminster Development Board, and is an active volunteer in his church and numerous community organizations.

"This is an exciting time in the life of the Huntingdon community and Juniata College, and our family is really looking forward to being part of both and making this our home," Ritchey says.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.