Karen Engelbourg, SVP for Development & Alumni Relations, to Depart Boston University
August 23, 2024
Dear Members of the Boston University Community,
I am writing today to share the news that Karen Ann Engelbourg, Senior Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations (DAR), is leaving Boston University on January 2, 2025, after 14 years of service. Recognized nationally as a leader in advancement, Karen has built and led an exceptional development and alumni engagement organization in collaboration with colleagues across the University and has forged productive relationships with countless trustees, alumni, parents, and friends of BU.
Notably, in 2023, for the first time, the University entered the ranks of the top 20 major private universities nationwide in annual philanthropic cash revenue. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, DAR achieved a record-breaking 30% increase in philanthropic cash revenue designated for key initiatives including financial aid and endowed scholarships, professorships, and faculty research. A savvy fundraising strategist who partnered with three presidents throughout her tenure, Karen’s steadfast leadership of DAR has connected alumni and donors with University priorities, raising over $1.2 billion in new commitments since 2019. Under Karen’s leadership, BU’s William Fairfield Warren Society, which recognizes individual donors of $1 million or more, accelerated from 34 members in 2010 to over 260 today.
Karen has made alumni engagement a top priority. She has overseen the expansion of the University’s alumni engagement efforts worldwide. In partnership with BU Alumni Council leadership, the University’s reach has been strengthened both domestically and abroad, fostering a more connected global community.
Before her promotion to Senior Vice President in 2019, Karen served as Vice President for Development for six years and played a critical role in the success of the University’s first-ever capital campaign, Choose to Be Great, which doubled its original goal and raised over $1.85 billion. Prior to that, she served as Associate Dean for Development for the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.
A valued friend of many in the BU community, Karen is a thoughtful and dedicated member of the University’s senior leadership team. On a personal note, I have enjoyed getting to know Karen and appreciate her warmth, her optimistic spirit, and her fundraising acumen. A national search for her successor will begin immediately. We will have many opportunities to celebrate Karen in the coming months. Please join me in thanking Karen for her steadfast commitment and service to Boston University.
Sincerely,
Melissa Gilliam
President
*8/23/24 This message was sent to faculty and staff.