Dear Campus Community,
Please help me welcome Elizabeth H. Mitchell as the Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the Foundation of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, effective July 13.
As Elizabeth prepares to join the College, I encourage you to welcome her to our community. She can be reached at ehmitchell@smcm.edu, and I know she looks forward to connecting with colleagues across campus.
Mitchell brings more than three decades of advancement leadership experience in higher education, most recently serving as Assistant Dean of Advancement in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech. Throughout her career, she has held senior advancement roles at Virginia Tech, George Washington University, the University of Maryland, Wheaton College, and Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
Mitchell earned her undergraduate degree in liberal arts from Smith College and a master’s from Harvard Divinity School, focusing on nonprofit management, philanthropy, and ethics.
A highly accomplished fundraising and relationship-building leader, Mitchell has led major campaign initiatives, secured transformational philanthropic support, and partnered closely with presidents, deans, governing boards, alumni, and donors to advance institutional priorities.
As Vice President of Advancement, Mitchell will lead the College's fundraising, alumni engagement, and advancement operations efforts, helping strengthen philanthropic support and deepen connections with alumni and friends of the College. And inclusive with advancement, she will serve as Executive Director of the St. Mary’s Foundation, working in close collaboration with the Foundation Board to serve the Foundation’s mission to initiate, cultivate and maintain strong lifelong relationships with alumni, friends and partners by creating a culture of giving, volunteer leadership and exemplary fiduciary responsibility toward the goal of a bright future as a preferred public liberal arts honors institution.
"Elizabeth Mitchell brings a remarkable depth of advancement experience and a proven record of building meaningful relationships that inspire philanthropic support," said President Rhonda Phillips. "I am delighted to welcome her to St. Mary's College and look forward to the leadership she will provide as we advance the College's mission and future aspirations."
Mitchell said, “St. Mary’s College’s mission, historic legacy, beautiful location, and the exceptional leadership of President Phillips and the dedicated Board of Trustees and Foundation Board members, who care deeply about a thriving vision and an enduring legacy for this unique college, are why I am so excited to join this community. I am committed to working with the advancement team, volunteer leaders, and college leadership to tell the St. Mary’s story to elevate philanthropic investments by alumni, parents, and friends.”
Please also join me in expressing our sincere appreciation to Stephen McDaniel for his leadership and guidance over the past year. His positive spirit, collaborative approach, and unwavering "can-do" attitude have provided steady leadership during an important period of transition and have helped strengthen the Advancement division and the College for the future.
Sincerely,
Rhonda
Rhonda Phillips, Ph.D., FAICP
President
