F. Raymond Agnew joins Paul Smith's College - 2011-04-04

F. RAYMOND AGNEW JOINS PAUL SMITH’S COLLEGE
Development professional named vice president for institutional advancement

CONTACT: Kenneth Aaron, Director of Communications
(518) 327-6297 / kaaron@paulsmiths.edu

PAUL SMITHS – F. Raymond Agnew, a respected development professional with deep ties to the North Country, has been named vice president for institutional advancement at Paul Smith’s College.

Agnew was vice president of community relations at Glens Falls Hospital for 12 years and raised more than $37 million for that organization. He began working at Paul Smith’s on Monday.

“We’re very excited to welcome Ray to Paul Smith’s College,” said Dr. John W. Mills, president of Paul Smith’s College. “Not only does he have an extensive track record of success wherever he’s been, but Ray is widely admired in the communities he has been a part of. His fund-raising and leadership skills will be a great asset to the college.”

Before serving at Glens Falls Hospital, Agnew was involved in institutional fund-raising at several colleges and universities. He was vice president for college advancement and executive director of the Potsdam College Foundation from 1994-1998; before that, he was assistant vice president at Empire State College and director of annual giving at Binghamton University.

As the head of the Office of Institutional Advancement at Paul Smith’s College, Agnew is in charge of fund-raising at the 1,000-student institution. Additionally, the advancement office oversees alumni relations with the nearly 13,000 living alumni who have graduated from Paul Smith’s, as well as the college’s public relations and marketing.

“Returning to higher education is a thrill for me, and making that return as a member of the Paul Smith’s College team makes it all the more special,” Agnew said. “The mission, the students, the setting—all combine to make this a remarkable opportunity and I am grateful for the chance to be a part of the college’s future.”

Agnew is returning not just to higher education but also the North Country: He is a native of Elizabethtown, where his father and sister still live, and he graduated from the State University of New York College at Potsdam, where he earned a degree in music composition and theory.

Agnew is certified by CFRE International, an organization that maintains performance and ethical standards for professional fundraisers. He has also been active with Rotary International and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Agnew succeeds Jennifer N. Ott, who had held the position on an interim basis since last fall.

ABOUT PAUL SMITH’S COLLEGE


At Paul Smith’s College, it’s about the experience. Our programs, in fields including hospitality, culinary arts, forestry, natural resources, entrepreneurship and the sciences, draw on industries and resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere.


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