Rollins Appoints Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Rollins College today announced the appointment of Laurie K. Houck as the new vice president for institutional advancement. She will join the Rollins community in January 2017.

Since 2011, Houck served as vice president for development and alumni relations at The College of Wooster. During that time, she and her team created and implemented effective fundraising and alumni engagement programs that led to increased giving and volunteer involvement, and built on the strong relationships with and commitment of the Board of Trustees and the Alumni Board.

“I am thrilled Laurie is joining the Rollins community,” said President Grant H. Cornwell. “We have important work ahead. Laurie’s vast and varied experience in fundraising leadership will be key as we move forward with our strategic plan. Laurie is a compelling and articulate champion of liberal education, well-practiced in inspiring others to support our noble purpose.”

Houck also led the development team at Whitman College from 2006 – 11, where she created the architecture for their largest campaign. Prior to Whitman, during her decade-long tenure at the University of Washington, she played a key role in the University’s $2 billion campaign.

“I decided long ago to support the important work of higher education, not through teaching as I once thought I would do, but through garnering the financial resources, personal networks, and volunteerism for the sake of advancing liberal education,” Houck said. “Rollins is a wonderful opportunity to do all of this with faculty, board members, and a president who all deeply care about the college and its mission.”

Houck holds a B.A. in English from Whitman College and completed coursework at Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management in 2013.

The vice president for institutional advancement oversees the Development, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Donor Relations, Annual Giving, Alumni Relations, Advancement Services and Scheduling & Events teams.