Jim Miller, long-time executive director of the NDSU Development Foundation and Alumni Association, has announced his intention to retire on June 30, 2013. Miller has held the leadership position since 1982.
"Jim's 30 years of service have enabled the Development Foundation to reach and often surpass unprecedented goals for NDSU,” said Ryn Pitts, vice president of the foundation board of trustees. “Jim has demonstrated great dedication to the university, developed a highly performing staff and cultivated strong donor relationships across the country.”
Ron Olson, foundation board chair, said Miller’s leadership and fundraising efforts have played key roles in the changes and growth NDSU has experienced in recent years. “Jim has been a tremendous asset to us,” Olson said. “He will be difficult to replace.”
During the next 15 months, Miller intends to continue working with NDSU’s alumni and friends in fundraising efforts. He lists as priorities the ongoing $32 million Competitive Edge Campaign for Bison Athletics, fundraising efforts to support the commodity trading room in Richard H. Barry Hall and coordination of the affairs of the Bison Caucus for the next legislative session.
“Serving this university has been a very enjoyable and rewarding experience,” Miller said. “It has been a pleasure to build all aspects of a fundraising program and then watch them come to fruition. Anything we have accomplished is through the generosity of NDSU alumni and friends across the country.”
Miller joined the NDSU Development Foundation in 1982, and has been responsible for the development and implementation of alumni services and NDSU Development Foundation programs. Under his leadership, the foundation’s endowment grew from $1.4 million to more than $100 million. His resume lists the successful “$20,000,000 Campaign for North Dakota State University,” $75 million “Momentum Campaign” and $3 million campaign for the NDSU Greenhouses and Bio Lab as career highlights.
Prior to joining NDSU, Miller was the associate director and director of planned giving at the Kansas State University Foundation, Manhattan. Miller earned his bachelor’s degree at Washburn University of Topeka, Kansas, and a master’s degree in university administration from Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti.