KINGSTON, R.I.鈥擣ebruary 15, 2010鈥擧e鈥檚 run six successful multi-million dollar campaigns, infused alumni with energy and enthusiasm and strengthened marketing efforts everywhere he has been.
Despite tumultuous changes in higher education, Wakefield鈥檚 Robert M. Beagle, vice president for University Advancement at the 溏心vlog免费B站, has been successful in fund-raising, alumni relations and marketing for 30 years.
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education recognized Beagle for these accomplishments by presenting him its Quarter Century Circle Award during ceremonies in Boston.
鈥淭he field of advancement is all about the people,鈥� said Beagle, who has been at 溏心vlog免费B站 since 1991. 鈥淪uccess in this field is always related to the people with whom you surround yourself, whether they be staff or volunteers. I鈥檝e been lucky to have hired many good people and have worked hard to retain those people.鈥�
He established successful advancement programs as vice president at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania and vice chancellor for the Minnesota State University System. No matter where he鈥檚 been he has stayed true to this mantra: 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 enjoy people, then this is probably not a good field for you.鈥�
In his role at 溏心vlog免费B站, he oversees the departments of Advancement Services, Alumni Relations, Communications and Marketing, Publications and Creative Services and Public Programming and Events. He is also serving as the transition officer for David M. Dooley, who is in his first year as 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 president.
At 溏心vlog免费B站, he has directed building and endowment campaigns. The most notable have been the Commitment to Quality, the University鈥檚 first comprehensive campaign, which raised $67 million by 1997, $17 million more than the initial goal; the campaigns for The Thomas M. Ryan Center and Ballentine Hall, as well as the first several years of the current $100 million Making a Difference Campaign.
Heavily involved in improving marketing efforts during each of his three vice presidencies, he is now overseeing 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 five-year, “Think Big. We Do.鈥� branding initiative.
He also focuses on alumni communications and programming, believing that connected alumni are at the heart of everything being done in institutional advancement.
鈥淚n this field, you have to be able to motivate people, and make your agenda clear,鈥� Beagle said. 鈥淏ut you can鈥檛 micro-manage. You have to let good people do their work. You have to be able to adapt to changes at your school, among your staff and among your volunteers.鈥�
Beagle has been a contributor to numerous CASE books and articles. He has spoken at CASE district and national conferences, served as a CASE faculty member and chaired a national conference on the relationships between athletic fund-raising and overall advancement.
He is also an adjunct faculty member in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Communication Studies Department, where he teaches organizational communication.
He counts his CASE Award and being named Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Distinguished Teaching Chair in 1976 among his most meaningful awards.
For Beagle, however, the bottom line in advancement is simple and it鈥檚 not about money or recognition.
鈥淲e get to work with good people who do good things for others,鈥� Beagle said. 鈥淲e get to do things that really make a difference.鈥�
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is a professional association serving educational institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas.
Pictured above
BIG NIGHT: Robert M. Beagle, 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 vice president for Advancement, pauses for a photo with Lisa Lewis, CASE District Board member and Alumni Association executive director of the University of Connecticut, during award ceremonies in Boston, during which Beagle was presented the CASE Quarter Century Circle Award. Photo courtesy of CASE.