Senior Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations, Penn Dental

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Senior Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations, Penn Dental

Job Profile Title

Job Description Summary

About Penn Dental:

Established in 1878, Penn Dental is among the oldest university-affiliated dental schools in the nation. The School has continued to reach new levels of discovery, sharing, and service in pursuing its mission of education, research, and patient care. Penn Dental students are among the nation’s best, and they are matched in quality by the high level of instruction and research among the School’s faculty. The School’s research encompasses all the basic and clinical sciences, and Penn’s emphasis on interdisciplinary scholarship encourages collaborations across disciplines. Penn Dental’s clinical care brings the latest techniques and technologies to patients within its teaching clinics and faculty practices.

The School has seen success in its fundraising and alumni relations efforts, with a strong foundation of corporate, philanthropic support. As it move into an exciting phase of growth under the leadership of Dean Mark Wolff, we seek a dynamic and visionary Senior Associate Dean to expand and elevate Penn Dental’s fundraising efforts to new heights, ensuring continued success for students, faculty, and groundbreaking research programs.

Position Summary:

Reporting jointly to the Dean of the School of Dental Medicine and the Associate Vice President for University Development (DAR), Penn Dental’s Senior Associate Dean is responsible for the overall conceptualization, planning and execution of a coordinated program of private and corporate source fundraising and alumni relations for the School of Dental Medicine. As the lead fundraiser for the program, the Senior Associate Dean is also responsible for growing and maintaining a robust overall pool and individual pipeline of prospects, donors and volunteer leaders on the school’s behalf.

The Senior Associate Dean serves as an integral member of the Dean's senior leadership team and plays a key leadership role at the School. They will work closely with their team, the Dean, faculty, the Board of Advisors, volunteer groups, alumni and students, promoting their active involvement in the fundraising and alumni relations process, and orchestrating the use of their time and talent to advance Penn Dental’s quest for gift and grant support, as well as further alumni engagement and public awareness.

As part of the University of Pennsylvania’s hybrid centralized/decentralized DAR structure, the Senior Associate Dean also serves as a senior member of Central DAR’s University Development team and will be included in leadership planning within the program. Within this struct