Officials appoint new advancement VP

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Janet Bingham New UA vice president for advancement

"I feel very honored to have been chosen," Bingham said.

Bingham has already begun preparing for her new position, even though her first day on the job won't be until Nov. 16.

Her first goal as vice president is to develop a strategic plan to promote the university, she said.

"I've already started," Bingham said. "There is so much work to be done."

After reviewing 143 applications for the position, University of Arizona President Peter Likins announced the decision yesterday.

"Janet (Bingham) is a fantastic appointment," said Sharon Kha, associate vice president for communications. "This will make a huge difference in how people operate."

Likins and a UA search committee spent nine months going through all the applications. After the process, Bingham was selected for her experience and ability to meet the job's challenges, Likins said.

"She's going to do a wonderful job," he said. "She went through a very competitive national search. When all the votes were in and all the opinions expressed, she clearly was the choice."

Five UA administrators will report directly to Bingham. Greg Fahey, associate vice president for state relations, is one of the administrators who will work directly under Bingham.

"I've worked with Janet for years," Fahey said. "I was on the search committee. She was the best choice."

Bingham has been a UA employee since 1983. Her duties have included government relations, institutional advancement, community relations, media relations, marketing, publications and communications.

She served as western region chairwoman of the Association of American Medical Colleges Group on Institutional Advancement and was also a news producer at KVOA, Tucson's NBC affiliate.

After declaring Bingham's appointment yesterday, Likins said, "I think that's an announcement that will be largely celebrated in this room."

Likins said he created the vice president for advancement position to establish and maintain the university's relationships with outside organizations.

He implemented a similar position in the early '90s while he was president at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. Last year, Lehigh eliminated the position in favor of two separate administrators.

When Likins announced the responsibilities of the new position in September, he said the vice president would work with groups such as neighbors, alumni, the state Legislature, the federal government and corporations.

"I want to ensure everyone is working very closely and ensure this university stays as it is," Bingham said. "We must be poised to support the capital campaign coming up."

Sixteen administrators report directly to Likins on issues such as internal affairs and relationships with benefactors, state and local governments and the media. Five of these staff members will soon report to the vice president for advancement.

"It will take different people to solve each others problems," Kha said. "We spend so much money and effort to make magazines, public service announcements and different forms of communication. Now we can coordinate efforts. It will make such a big difference on how people see us."

Liz Dailey can be reached via e-mail at Liz.Dailey@wildcat.arizona.edu.