Michael Andreasen, an accomplished academic administrator with three decades of experience in university fundraising, has been appointed Columbia University’s executive vice president for university development and alumni relations. In this role, he oversees a department that leads a wide range of activities aimed at engaging alumni in the life of the University and raising philanthropic support to advance Columbia’s teaching, research, and service mission.
Andreasen comes to Columbia from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was the vice chancellor for development. In that position, he built a collaborative fundraising ecosystem that includes twenty-six independent fundraising units, seventeen associated fundraising foundations, and numerous advisory boards. He also guided the successful One Carolina fundraising effort, with donations totaling $606 million in the last fiscal year, the second-highest total in the university’s history.
Prior to leading fundraising at UNC-Chapel Hill, Andreasen served as senior vice president for university advancement at the University of Oregon, where he oversaw the university offices dedicated to development; state, community, and federal affairs; advancement operations; stewardship; and public events and alumni relations. He also executed a $3 billion campaign and was instrumental in securing some of the largest donations ever to a public flagship university.
Before Oregon, Andreasen was in fundraising leadership roles at the University of Michigan; the University of California, Santa Barbara; and the American Film Institute. Andreasen began his career as director of the annual fund for the University of California, Irvine, where he also earned a bachelor of arts in political science.
Andreasen’s appointment follows a nationwide search.
Said President Jennifer L. Mnookin in announcing his hire: “From the beginning Mike stood out for his deep understanding of large and complex institutions of higher education, his demonstrated ability to ensure the efficient and effective use of university resources to achieve institutional fundraising goals, his ability to think creatively about transformative philanthropic opportunities, his intellectual curiosity and commitment to excellence, and his excitement about the potential that lies in Columbia’s next chapter.”
