Jim Moore

A former director of advancement at the Eller College of Management will become the new president and CEO of the University of Arizona Foundation in March.

Jim Moore will replace former president Richard Imwalle, who served as UA Foundation president for 28 years and retired Dec. 31.

Moore left the Eller College in 2003 to serve as president and chief executive officer of the University of Northern Colorado Foundation.

Moore, who graduated from Tucson's Palo Verde High School, said he is excited to come back to Tucson.

"It's a tremendous honor to be given this opportunity," he said. "The opportunity to come home is very exciting."

UA Foundation spokesman Rodney Campbell said Moore is known to have a great track record as an outstanding fundraiser.

"He's young and energetic and will have new ideas to bring to the table," Campbell said. "He really believes in teamwork and he believes in the (UA) Foundation."

The UA Foundation recently reached its $1 billion fundraising goal, and Moore said he plans to build on that success and continue to increase support for the university.

"We want a stronger relationship with the university community, and we want to have a stronger presence in Phoenix because we have a lot of alumni who live there," Moore said.

While working for the UNC Foundation, Moore was able to actively engage with the deans of different colleges to set up fundraising priorities and build a better relationship with the people in each college, Campbell said.

"One of his references told the search committee, 'If you don't hire him now, you're going to be hearing about him in a couple of years and you're going to wish you had hired him,'" Campbell said.

Moore said that the new UA president will have a lot of influence on future fundraising goals, and hopes the new president will be able to articulate a strong case of support for investors.

"People need committed leaders when they are thinking about investing," Moore said. "I am excited for our new president to be selected and ready for him to help advance the (UA Foundation) goals."

At age 40, Moore will be a young leader for the UA Foundation. But his young age doesn't worry anyone because he brings a lot of positive energy to the table, Campbell said.

Becoming the UA Foundation president is "a big and impressive leap," Campbell said.

Moore has been married for "going on 15 years in May" and has two sons and a daughter. He said his wife is equally excited about the opportunity and has been very involved in the process.