Kim Harris, Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement and the University’s Campaign Director, has been appointed Vice President for Advancement at Colgate. The veteran higher education fundraiser takes over for Karl Clauss ’90, who held the position since 2020 and has moved on to seek new challenges.
“I am extremely grateful that Kim has agreed to serve as Vice President and to continue the significant momentum we have experienced in the Campaign for the Third Century,” says President Brian W. Casey. “Kim has served as Campaign Director for the past several years at Colgate and will be sure to do well as she transitions into this larger role.”
Harris, Colgate’s first female Vice President for Advancement, will lead a busy division that is moving the University closer to its extremely ambitious $1 billion campaign goal which seeks to significantly strengthen the University's core mission – from its academic program through student life.
“In the Advancement Division, we are positioned between an institution’s aspirations and the resources our supporters have worked their whole lives to generate,” Harris says. “They are choosing to consider us. To sit in the middle and be an honest broker for that choice is a privilege. I am excited to partner with President Casey and others as we continue to capitalize on the momentum of this historic campaign to march into Colgate’s third century. As I step into this leadership role, I am very focused on caring for this hard-working division, for this university, and for our third century.”
Harris began her academic fundraising career at the University of Kentucky, where she served in the colleges of Dentistry, Fine Arts, and Medicine during a 14-year tenure. She joined Colgate’s Advancement Office in 2021 as Associate Vice President for Major Gifts. Upon the launch of the campaign in 2022, Harris added Campaign Director to her title and began to manage teams that have been vital to the University’s current fundraising success. Their efforts have resulted in over $680M to date supporting the completion of four major building projects, the creation of 15 endowed faculty chairs, and the expansion of the Colgate Commitment — an initiative to significantly increase student financial aid.
Moving forward, the University will reimagine the residential and social experience for students, completing the Residential Commons program while renovating structures and creating new residences along Broad Street. Colgate will also invest in its Division I athletics program with new facilities, increased endowment support, and additional current-use funds for its teams. Meanwhile, the University will continue its efforts to increase the percentage of aided students and invest in the academic enterprise that is the cornerstone of a Colgate education.
“This campaign is in support of the Third-Century Plan, and we will achieve our goals and celebrate the next chapter for Colgate while lifting up and honoring our important history,” Harris says. “Campaigns are a key ingredient to a university’s ability to bring its vision to life and lift the words of our Third-Century Plan off the page and into reality.”