UNH Today

Deborah Dutton will become vice president for advancement at the University of New Hampshire and president of the UNH Foundation, effective Sept. 1, 2012.

Dutton has most recently served as vice president for development and alumni relations at Colby College. During her six-year tenure, and before being promoted to vice president, she served as campaign director and led the school’s largest fundraising effort, the Reaching the World campaign, which surpassed its goal to raise $376 million when it concluded in 2010. During the campaign, she led efforts to revamp gift planning, major gifts and the annual fund. As vice president, she created a five-year philanthropic plan in support of the Colby 2013 fundraising initiatives currently underway.

“Over the course of her career, Debbie has demonstrated that she is a strong leader with the experience we at the University of New Hampshire need in order to continue building our efforts in fundraising, alumni engagement and communications,” said UNH President Mark Huddleston. “It is clear that she not only has the vision and the strategic sense that are essential to this work, she also possesses the rare personal qualities that will enable her to galvanize our dedicated volunteer and professional teams to successfully achieve our shared ambitions.”

Dutton’s career in development began at the Maine chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She has held development positions in major gifts and management at three Harvard teaching hospitals: the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Children's Hospital, and the Joslin Diabetes Center. While at Joslin Diabetes Center, Dutton built and led a team through the strategic planning process and the silent phase of a major capital fundraising initiative. She also was a senior leadership giving officer at Bates College.

Dutton earned a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from the University of Maine and a master of science degree in business management from Lesley College.

“UNH is a wonderful institution, and I am honored to represent it in this way,” Dutton said. “I am a strong believer in public higher education and in the mission of the land-grant colleges. State institutions like my alma mater and UNH make it possible for students from almost any background to get an excellent education. This is motivating and inspiring to me.

“I am eager to partner with the UNH community to increase alumni, parent and community engagement, and achieve success in enhancing philanthropic opportunities that will benefit current and future generations of UNH students,” Dutton said.