MSU hires VP for university advancement

Brent Dunn, MSU’s director of athletics development and assistant director of athletics, begins in his new position on Aug. 1.

Dunn replaces Greg Onstot, who retired earlier this year after 25 years with the school. He was selected in a national search and from two fellow finalists – Robin Robeson, former senior vice president and Springfield market executive for The Commerce Trust Co., and Prudence Precourt, director of marketing and executive vice president for the foundation at the Ripon Medical Center in Ripon, Wis.

Don Aripoli, vice president for student affairs, has been serving in the interim.

“The keys to being successful in development are … believing in your product – in this case, the university, and … cultivating and maintaining relationships,” MSU President Michael Nietzel said in a news release. “In the opinions of the search committee, … Brent excels in these two areas.”

Dunn will be paid $112,500, with a car allowance, a country club membership and a membership to The Tower Club, according to the release. He will oversee fund-raising functions in the school’s development office, activities of the alumni relations office and staffing responsibilities for the MSU Foundation.

Dunn joined the MSU development staff in 1985 as director of annual giving. He later was associate director of development and director of annual giving.

He took his current job in 1995. In that role, Dunn manages the $1.7 million Bears Fund program for athletics, organizes special events and conducts major gift solicitations.

Dunn’s appointment will be up for formal approval at the Aug. 3 MSU Board of Governors’ meeting.