December 19, 2022

Dear colleagues,

I am writing to provide you with information about my interim leadership plans for University Advancement. There are two important elements of these plans.

First, I am pleased to share that we have engaged Robert (Bob) Shepard, a senior vice president at Grenzebach, Glier and Associates, to serve as an ongoing consultant and advisor to both me and the development and alumni programs during this interim period. Bob has held several leadership positions in higher education development during his career, including 14 years as vice president for development and alumni relations at Duke University, where he led a campaign that raised $3.85 billion for the university.

Bob will advise me on near-term development strategies and opportunities. At the same time, Bob will work closely with the University Development and UO Alumni Association senior leaders to ensure we maintain our successful trajectory. Lastly, Bob will play a significant role in working with our teams to develop and support plans to allow both the permanent president and the new vice president for advancement, once selected, to successfully onboard and quickly engage in their work of supporting the university’s mission. Advancement’s senior leadership team will continue to run their respective portfolios and administrative operations and remain focused on our established objectives. We are doing amazing work together and my goal is to maintain that focus and momentum.

Second, Tim Inman, university secretary and advisor to the president, will assume interim management of the Office of Government and Community Relations portfolio—including federal, state and community affairs, effective January 15, 2023. Tim has significant experience in this arena and will serve as a single point of contact for these units in their work with me and other senior leaders.

I have great confidence in our advancement staff and their strong and consistent record of remarkable successes over the past years. I have every expectation that this excellence will continue during the months ahead under this new interim consultation and leadership.

Please join me in thanking Bob and Tim as they take on these roles.

Sincerely,

Patrick Phillips
Interim President and Professor of Biology