Mary C. Finger, a philanthropy professional with significant experience in the development of external relations programs and strategic plans, has been named DePaul University's senior vice president for Advancement.

For the past nine years, she has served as vice president for Planning and Institutional Advancement at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, where she recently completed the college's first comprehensive capital campaign – exceeding its original goal by 160 percent; oversaw development and implementation of two successful strategic plans; and revamped the institution's university relations and alumni programs.

"It is that style of success and leadership that we are confident she will bring to DePaul's advancement efforts," said the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., DePaul's president. "I am impressed with her competence, obvious resonance with DePaul's mission and experience building an integrated advancement program from the ground up."

Finger said she is drawn to the university's commitment to educational access and community service. "DePaul's strong academic programming and outreach to its surrounding urban community provides a unique and stimulating environment. I look forward to being a part of a dynamic team of faculty and staff that so comprehensively serves its students," she said. She will lead a staff of advancement professionals who support DePaul's mission through outreach to the university’s alumni and friends.

Finger's nearly 20 years of experience in fund raising has prepared her to assume the top post in DePaul's advancement efforts. Prior to her tenure at Mount Mary, she served Northwestern University as director of development for its School of Engineering and Applied Science and the university's library system. She also was the acting executive director and development director at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Foundation.

She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Marquette University, is nearing completion of a master's degree in education at Mount Mary and most recently attended the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University.

Finger officially assumed her new responsibilities at DePaul Jan. 3.

Located in Chicago, DePaul became the largest Catholic university in America in 1998 and has held that distinction ever since. The fall 2004 enrollment of 23,570 students on the university's two city and five suburban campuses ranked DePaul as the eighth largest private, non-profit university in the nation and the only one in the top 10 with a primary mission of teaching and service.

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