Nov 07, 2009 | 11:45
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Nov 24, 2008
Tracie Christensen to lead growing "culture of philanthropy" at UCLA
The UC budget crunch and economic hard times coast-to-coast could give a person pause at the prospect of heading up fundraising for a major public institution. But not Tracie Christensen, who assumes the post of UCLA associate vice chancellor for development on Jan. 1.
“I’m thrilled. It’s a real privilege to take on this role,” Christensen said in a recent interview in her office at Murphy Hall, where she currently serves as assistant vice chancellor for development for the College of Letters and Science.
While she has “a deep appreciation for the need for private support dollars for this campus at this time,” she pointed out that UCLA is ranked among the nation’s top ten higher education institutions for fundraising – the only public university among a field of privates.
“You can’t help but be proud to be a member of UCLA’s development team,” she said. “We certainly are a program that is very well respected … and I hope to continue that trend.”
Christensen has done her part to help build UCLA’s reputation for nearly two decades. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, she majored in communications with hopes of becoming a television anchor – until she realized during a local TV station internship that the industry was “much too aggressive to my liking.” Instead, she entered the field of corporate training and then moved on to fund-raising consulting. One of her clients was UCLA, which was so impressed with her work that she was invited to join its development staff.
Starting out as manager of the telemarketing and direct mail programs for the Annual Fund, she eventually came to manage the fund overall. For the past nine years, she has led the development program for the College of Letters and Science. All the while, she has also served as co-executive director of the Women and Philanthropy program, a university-wide program to encourage women’s volunteer and philanthropic leadership.
“Her 19 years of experience at UCLA made her the standout candidate in a national pool of aspirants to the job,” said Vice Chancellor of External Affairs Rhea Turteltaub, in announcing Christensen’s appointment. “Tracie is highly respected by our donor and volunteer community, and she enjoys extensive and productive working relationships with many of the campus’s academic and philanthropic leaders.”
During Christensen’s tenure in the College, Turteltaub noted, annual gift totals have more than doubled, 45 endowed chairs were created and the level of engagement of deans and faculty in the development process has grown exponentially.
Support like this is what enables bright, talented people campuswide to accomplish goals of their own, Christensen said. “We are facilitators, enabling students to have an opportunity to attend UCLA, faculty to have an opportunity to perform groundbreaking research.”
Today’s economic challenges, she said, offer more opportunities to be innovative.
“Do I think we’ll have to be more creative? Yes. Do I think some people will want to be a little more cautious than they were six months ago? Of course. But does that mean that we shouldn’t be out there telling our story and letting people know what our need is? Absolutely not – we need to do this now more than ever.”
One message she wants to clearly convey is that contributions to UCLA rarely replace state dollars to “turn on the lights.” Rather, she said, “The majority of dollars that we raise are dollars that create the margin of excellence. Gifts to fund scholarships, fellowships, faculty recruitment and retention, research – these are the areas where we can make the most impact.”
Among her goals are a redoubling of efforts to involve alumni in the life of the campus in meaningful ways, as well as greater communication with existing donors about the significant impact their gifts have had. Christensen is also looking at ways to work more closely with faculty to support the interdisciplinary research addressing some of the world’s toughest problems.
Christensen was happy to note a growing “culture of philanthropy” on campus.
“There are very committed people on this campus – faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, volunteers – people who are so passionate about what they do and who see themselves as having a role in the culture of philanthropy on this campus,” she said.
“In my opinion, with the aspirations for private support on this campus, it will take every one of us to play a role, whatever that may be.”
“I’m thrilled. It’s a real privilege to take on this role,” Christensen said in a recent interview in her office at Murphy Hall, where she currently serves as assistant vice chancellor for development for the College of Letters and Science. While she has “a deep appreciation for the need for private support dollars for this campus at this time,” she pointed out that UCLA is ranked among the nation’s top ten higher education institutions for fundraising – the only public university among a field of privates.
“You can’t help but be proud to be a member of UCLA’s development team,” she said. “We certainly are a program that is very well respected … and I hope to continue that trend.”
Christensen has done her part to help build UCLA’s reputation for nearly two decades. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, she majored in communications with hopes of becoming a television anchor – until she realized during a local TV station internship that the industry was “much too aggressive to my liking.” Instead, she entered the field of corporate training and then moved on to fund-raising consulting. One of her clients was UCLA, which was so impressed with her work that she was invited to join its development staff.
Starting out as manager of the telemarketing and direct mail programs for the Annual Fund, she eventually came to manage the fund overall. For the past nine years, she has led the development program for the College of Letters and Science. All the while, she has also served as co-executive director of the Women and Philanthropy program, a university-wide program to encourage women’s volunteer and philanthropic leadership.
“Her 19 years of experience at UCLA made her the standout candidate in a national pool of aspirants to the job,” said Vice Chancellor of External Affairs Rhea Turteltaub, in announcing Christensen’s appointment. “Tracie is highly respected by our donor and volunteer community, and she enjoys extensive and productive working relationships with many of the campus’s academic and philanthropic leaders.”
During Christensen’s tenure in the College, Turteltaub noted, annual gift totals have more than doubled, 45 endowed chairs were created and the level of engagement of deans and faculty in the development process has grown exponentially.
Support like this is what enables bright, talented people campuswide to accomplish goals of their own, Christensen said. “We are facilitators, enabling students to have an opportunity to attend UCLA, faculty to have an opportunity to perform groundbreaking research.”
Today’s economic challenges, she said, offer more opportunities to be innovative.
“Do I think we’ll have to be more creative? Yes. Do I think some people will want to be a little more cautious than they were six months ago? Of course. But does that mean that we shouldn’t be out there telling our story and letting people know what our need is? Absolutely not – we need to do this now more than ever.”
One message she wants to clearly convey is that contributions to UCLA rarely replace state dollars to “turn on the lights.” Rather, she said, “The majority of dollars that we raise are dollars that create the margin of excellence. Gifts to fund scholarships, fellowships, faculty recruitment and retention, research – these are the areas where we can make the most impact.”
Among her goals are a redoubling of efforts to involve alumni in the life of the campus in meaningful ways, as well as greater communication with existing donors about the significant impact their gifts have had. Christensen is also looking at ways to work more closely with faculty to support the interdisciplinary research addressing some of the world’s toughest problems.
Christensen was happy to note a growing “culture of philanthropy” on campus.
“There are very committed people on this campus – faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, volunteers – people who are so passionate about what they do and who see themselves as having a role in the culture of philanthropy on this campus,” she said.
“In my opinion, with the aspirations for private support on this campus, it will take every one of us to play a role, whatever that may be.”
Also read a Q&A about the economy and UCLA with Rhea Turteltaub, vice chancellor for external affairs. And find links to additional UC and UCLA budget-related stories.
