Virginia Tech has hired Mark Carter as a principal gifts officer within the Advancement Division.

Carter, who joined the principal gifts team in March, formerly served as senior director of development for the National Academy of Sciences, where he helped to raise more than $200 million and increase the academy’s unrestricted endowment by more than 25 percent.

“Mark is a great addition to our team,” said Monecia Taylor, the university’s associate vice president for principal gifts. “He brings more than 25 years of experience in fundraising for research or higher education and has a distinguished record of securing multimillion dollar gifts in support of major strategic priorities for the organizations he has served.”

Carter joined the National Academy of Sciences as senior director of development in 2006. In addition to his fundraising responsibilities in that position, he served for more than two years as interim senior director of development for the National Academy of Engineering and for nearly two years as interim director of development operations for the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and what was then called the Institute of Medicine.

Prior to joining the National Academy of Sciences, Carter was assistant dean of development for Ohio University’s Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ College of Engineering and Technology, where he led a capital campaign that exceeded its goal of $30 million. Carter's responsibilities in that position also included managing the university’s largest donor, who bequeathed a $125 million estate.

Carter’s career history also includes serving as assistant dean for development for Ohio University’s College of Education and as assistant director of development for Edinboro University, located in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. Carter obtained his bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College, located in Meadville, Pennsylvania.

The National Academies are located in Washington, D.C. Carter said Virginia Tech’s bold plans to launch an Innovation Campus in the greater Washington, D.C., metro area drew his interest, as did the university’s overall fundraising accomplishments, the fact the university is in a $1.5 billion campaign, and Virginia Tech’s passionate network of alumni.

“I have a nephew who has graduated from Virginia Tech and is doing very well, which is further evidence of the excellent education that Virginia Tech provides,” Carter said. “I am very impressed by the vision and leadership at the university. Virginia Tech is an innovative and forward-looking institution that has maintained its long-standing tradition of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), and for that reason I cannot think of a better place to be. It’s exciting to be in a position where I can make a difference by helping secure transformational gifts that will enhance Virginia Tech’s ability to serve the world.”

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