Executive Brief

Assistant Dean of Development, School of Public Affairs
American University

American University

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. American University's students distinguish themselves for their service, leadership, and ability to rethink global and domestic challenges and opportunities.

Founded in 1893, the University offers a distinctive academic experience that combines rigorous scholarship with experiential learning opportunities tied directly to the nation’s political, cultural, and international institutions. With a diverse and globally minded community of students, faculty, and alumni, American University is recognized for its strengths in international relations, public affairs, law, business, communications, and the arts, and for preparing graduates to lead with purpose, integrity, and impact in an increasingly complex world.

Nestled in a residential district of Washington, DC, AU's 90-acre campus gives students the advantages of a traditional college setting combined with unparalleled access to the energy, culture, and opportunities of our nation's capital.

American University's Advancement Team

The Advancement team at American University plays a critical role in advancing the institution’s mission through strategic philanthropy, alumni engagement, and partnerships that strengthen the University’s academic and societal impact. The team is responsible for cultivating and stewarding relationships with alumni, parents, friends, foundations, and corporate partners, supporting a broad range of priorities including scholarships, faculty excellence, research, student access, and campus initiatives. Known for its collaborative culture, data-informed approach, and strong alignment with University leadership, American University’s Advancement team is deeply committed to fostering a culture of philanthropy that reflects the institution’s values of service, global citizenship, and inclusive excellence.

University Advancement – Leadership Spotlights

Matthew Eynon – Vice President for University Advancement

Matthew Eynon
Vice President for University Advancement

Matthew Eynon joined the American University (AU) senior leadership team as Vice President for University Advancement in June 2025. In his role, Matthew oversees all aspects of AU’s fundraising, advancement communications, and alumni, parent, and constituent engagement. He brings more than three decades of advancement leadership experience to his role.

Prior to AU, Matthew served as Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Office of Resource Development (RD) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he provided leadership for the organization’s day-to-day operating activities, preparation for MIT’s next comprehensive campaign, and overall strategic planning for RD.

Before MIT, Eynon served as vice president for College Advancement at Franklin & Marshall College (F&M), where he led the most successful campaign in F&M history. Prior to F&M, Eynon served as associate vice president for capital giving at Boston College during its successful $1.6 billion campaign; as chief advancement officer for the University of Massachusetts Lowell; and in senior leadership roles for Suffolk University, and for two independent schools. Eynon also spent time in for-profit sales and marketing roles, including as co-founder of The Pyrenees Group, LLC.

A graduate of Dickinson College, Eynon has been an active leader for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), where he currently serves as Chair for CASE’s Global Commission on Advancement Insights & Operations. He served as co-Chair of CASE’s Global Reporting Standards & Management Guidelines Working Group, chair of CASE’s Global Commission on Philanthropy and as a member of the CASE Board of Trustees. Eynon also served as District I Board Chair and received the Carol and Stephen Hebert Award for Distinguished Service from CASE District I. In addition, Eynon serves on the CCS Fundraising Systems & Change Management Advisory Board, a non-profit industry-wide leadership group.

Beyond his professional service, Eynon currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Greenwich Academy (CT). Eynon has previously served on the Board of Trustees for Wooster School, the Lancaster City Alliance Board of Directors, and on the United States Golf Association’s (USGA) 2015 and 2024 US Women’s Open Tournament Executive Committee.

Elizabeth Harless – Assistant Vice President for University Advancement

Elizabeth Harless
Assistant Vice President for University Advancement

Elizabeth Harless is the Assistant Vice President of Advancement at American University, where she oversees the strategic fundraising operations for the institution’s schools and units. A veteran of higher education advancement with over 20 years of experience, Elizabeth previously served as Associate Dean for Advancement for AU’s College of Arts and Sciences. During her eight-year tenure there, she transformed the College’s philanthropic landscape, raising over $100 million during an historic campaign for American University.

Elizabeth’s career is marked by a track record of navigating complex, high-pressure environments at premier organizations, including Georgetown University, the American Cancer Society, and Children’s National Medical Center. She holds a master’s degree from Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts from West Virginia University.

Outside of her professional role, Elizabeth is a committed volunteer leader and serves the College of Arts and Sciences Board at West Virginia University. A resident of Alexandria, Virginia, she balances her work at American University with her interests as an avid golfer and her dedication to her family, cherishing time spent with her husband and two daughters.

American University’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan

American University’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, Meet Our Moment, is a pledge to prepare students for career and personal success and to strengthen the institution’s impact on the world. Grounded in three pillars—Readiness, Community, and Curiosity—the plan expands experiential learning and skill development, deepens career preparation, leverages AU’s unique approach to impactful research, and integrates Washington, DC, into every facet of the AU experience.

By 2030, AU will be a premier destination for students seeking real-world experience, in-demand skills, and clear professional pathways. This journey is led by a community that spans our award-winning arboretum campus to learning hubs and research partnerships around the globe. Meet Our Moment catalyzes AU’s strengths into a cohesive, student-centered strategy that connects today’s ambitions with tomorrow’s needs.

American University's School of Public Affairs

The School of Public Affairs (SPA) at American University has been a hub for policy-related research and teaching for 90+ years. Created during the depths of the Great Depression to train federal employees to implement President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “New Deal,” SPA builds a culture of excellence and transforms the student experience through personalized teaching and experiential education; empowerment to conduct and produce research for those who seek knowledge; and ongoing engagement and collaboration between the academic and policy-planning spheres.

SPA offers 6 undergraduate and 13 graduate degrees and is home to five research journals that span public affairs, government, and law. Its legacy, set by President Roosevelt’s charge to promote "practical contacts between the collegiate and educational world, and the operations of government,” continues to inform its values and approach, as 1,900 current students and more than 23,000 alumni tackle complex issues with thoughtful research that educates, informs, and promotes change across a multitude of fields.

School of Public Affairs – Leadership Spotlight

Alison Jacknowitz – Interim Dean, School of Public Affairs

Alison Jacknowitz
Interim Dean, School of Public Affairs

Alison Jacknowitz is the Interim Dean of the School of Public Affairs (SPA) at American University and a Professor in the Department of Public Administration and Policy. Her research interests focus on children’s well-being, particularly food insecurity, poverty, and food assistance. Jacknowitz has also conducted research on early childhood education. Her research has been supported by several organizations including the University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Institute for Research on Poverty, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and Feeding America. Her work has appeared in a variety of scholarly journals including: Demography, Journal of Nutrition, Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Pediatrics, Social Service Review, and The Journal of Human Resources. She regularly teaches Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis I and Program Evaluation. Jacknowitz has been the recipient of the SPA Award for Outstanding Teaching in a Full-Time Appointment as well as the SPA Award for the Innovative Use of Technology in Teaching. She received the SPA Award for Outstanding Service to the University Community and the SPA Pioneer Award. She is a member of the Technical Advisory Group member of Feeding America.

The Opportunity – Assistant Dean of Development, School of Public Affairs

AU – Assistant Dean of Development, SPA – Job Description (PDF Download)

Position Summary

Working in and reporting to the University Advancement, the Assistant Dean of Development, School of Public Affairs (“SPA”) is the principal fundraiser for SPA at American University. The Assistant Dean of Development works on behalf of the Dean of SPA, shaping and executing plans for fundraising to meet the financial needs of the Dean’s academic priorities for the School. The Assistant Dean of Development works primarily in the area of major gift fundraising for SPA and participates in the Dean’s senior management team in order to understand fully and discuss the implications of academic programs for development. The Assistant Dean of Development plans, implements, and oversees the major gift fundraising program for SPA with emphasis on gifts of $100,000 to $1,000,000+, as well as collaborates with the principal gifts program, parent philanthropy, annual giving, as well as foundation/corporate giving.

The Assistant Dean of Development serves as a key member of the Dean’s management team and as an ambassador of SPA. The Assistant Dean of Development assists with the development of publications for SPA and other programs and special events by the Dean and Vice President of Development. The Assistant Dean of Development supervises the activities of one additional fundraiser (Director of Development, SPA), and they work as a collaborative team in support of donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, alumni programming, and special events. In coordination with the Dean, the Assistant Dean of Development and SPA Development team strategically recruit and staff members for the SPA Dean’s Council. The Assistant Dean of Development and SPA Development team strive to maximize the Council’s effectiveness, working closely with the Dean’s office to establish agendas and programs for meetings and communications.

As a specific component of the Assistant Dean of Development’s responsibilities, the Assistant Dean of Development works with the Dean of SPA to engage the Dean in donor/constituent specific Development strategies, secure dates and plan for the Dean’s development activities, including local and regional constituency events, travel for cultivation and solicitation, correspondence and regular contact with donors.

The Assistant Dean of Development, School of Public Affairs reports to the Assistant Vice President, Advancement, with a collaborative dotted line to the Dean of the School of Public Affairs.

The Assistant Dean of Development operates under the University’s prospect development system with the expectations of achieving the metrics below through demonstration of a high degree of professionalism, discretion, and refined written and oral communication.

Expectations, Accountabilities and Qualifications

Position Specific Expectations:

Management and strategy development of a pool of 150 assigned, rated, and staged prospects generally rated $100,000-$1,000,000+.
Meaningful contact or consistently demonstrated attempted contact of 100% of the assigned portfolio during any six month period.
Regular maintenance of prospect pipeline (i.e., planned and executed solicitations) to reflect a minimum of 15 major gift solicitations per year.
Varying by stage of cultivation, consistent movement of prospects in assigned portfolio in prescribed timeframe. (As an example, it is expected that prospects will only be in qualification and early cultivation mode for 6 months, regular cultivation for 12 months, and pre-solicitation cultivation and consideration mode for 6 months.)
A minimum of 10 planned, strategic visits per month with many other interactions, meetings, events, and unplanned visits.
Regular updates to contacts, staging, ratings so that all reports are current for supervision meetings and monthly progress reports.
Work in concert with University Advancement colleagues, including particularly close collaboration with the Planned Giving Team, and Office of Prospect Development to conduct entrepreneurial prospect identification and qualification work equal to approximately 10-20% of all activity. (More if Assistant Dean of Development meets expectations of progress with assigned portfolio).
The Assistant Dean of Development’s financial objectives will be established collaboratively and with close review of the capacity and readiness indicators of the Assistant Dean of Development’s prospect portfolio.
The Assistant Dean of Development coordinates closely with the Senior Director of Development, Annual Giving to ensure messages and priorities are consistent for the mail and phone programs; as well as with directors in other areas (Planned Giving, Leadership Annual Giving, Strategic Partnerships, other units) on mutual interest prospects and programs.

Principal Accountabilities:

With the Dean and independently, aggressively work major gifts portfolio under the prospect development guidelines, actively setting and executing strategies on assigned major gift prospects, meeting or exceeding established benchmarks for visits, contacts, and solicitations, and securing gifts that support the academic priorities of the Dean, other units, or the University as a whole.
Develop, execute, and manage fundraising strategies, priorities, schedules and tactics for the Dean of the School of Public Affairs, including but not limited to: (1) identifying and engaging prospects around the Dean’s academic priorities for the School; (2) planning travel and individual meetings; (3) managing regular communication with key prospects; (4) adding a development perspective to relevant matters that emerge in the School or on the Dean’s leadership team; and, (5) managing all aspects of the Dean’s Advocacy Council, including developing strategy to cultivate and solicit council members for leadership giving at SPA.
Manage, motivate, and evaluate the School of Public Affairs Development team: Director of Development, SPA and Development Coordinator, SPA. Develop major gift strategies and revenue expectations, donor stewardship initiatives, and special event plans. Delegate and assign tasks, including creation and design of related publications.
Work with AU’s Annual Giving team to effectively manage annual giving techniques and messages utilized in AU’s direct marketing and phone programs, assuming responsibility for making sure the information about the School of Public Affairs used in these programs is accurate, up to date, and in line with the School’s current fundraising objectives. Work closely with the Director of Development, Annual Giving, on annual Dean’s letter or other equivalent solicitation pieces, insuring that they occupy a reasonable and productive spot in AU’s direct marketing calendar.
Other duties as assigned in support of the objectives of the Vice President of University Advancement.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution.
Seven or more years progressively responsible development experience required, with at least four years in demonstrated success in securing major gifts of $100,000+.
Supervisory experience.
Familiarity with and experience following guidelines of an established Prospect Management System.
Computer literacy with MS Office suite or equivalent and familiarity with fundraising systems.
Superior written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Applications & Nominations

American University has partnered with Boyden. For more information about this opportunity or to submit a cover letter and resume, please email:

Lisa Vuona
Managing Partner, Boston
lvuona@boyden.com
LinkedIn

Lisa Vuona has decades of experience in executive search and human resource management, primarily in the non-profit, healthcare and education sectors. She is distinguished by her track record and network, and by her approach, which combines the strategic power of data with a finely tuned ability to understand the client’s organization and identify high-caliber leaders who fit the culture.

Beth Parsons
Principal, Boston
bparsons@boyden.com
LinkedIn

Beth Parsons specializes in the education and non-profit sectors, having held fundraising and leadership roles in prominent educational and social impact organizations for over 25 years. She partners with clients to develop search strategies on the basis of organizational needs and core values. Her extensive advancement network serves as a source of high-impact talent.

Don’t check off all the boxes or meet every single requirement? We have learned that potential candidates hesitate when applying for a job unless they meet every single requirement. Boyden Boston is dedicated to inclusivity and valuing diversity and equity in the workplace. If this opportunity excites you, but your background may not be a perfect match, we still encourage you to apply.