•
BIDDEFORD, Maine

University of New England names John Norton VP for institutional advancement

 The University of New England has named John Norton vice president for institutional advancement.  As UNE's chief development officer, Norton will lead UNE's fundraising, alumni relations, major gifts, and planned giving efforts.  He will join UNE on September 18.

UNE President Danielle Ripich states, "John has an outstanding record of senior leadership in higher education fundraising and campaign development. He joins an exceptional and highly motivated institutional advancement team - and at an ideal time.  As we enter the second half of UNE's "Vision 2017" strategic plan, John's skills in donor cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, together with his proven leadership and team-building acumen, position UNE for continued success."

In his advancement career, Norton has had direct responsibility for three successful comprehensive campaigns that collectively exceeded $900 million.

He most recently served as assistant vice president for advancement at Pomona College, where he created a major gifts program and helped lead and execute Pomona's successful fundraising campaign. He also led a $500 million campaign at Lehigh University in 2004-2007, where he provided vision and oversight for the annual fund and planned giving programs.

Norton's fundraising career began in Maine.  He spent 12 years as a key member of Bowdoin College's advancement team, culminating in his role as director of principal gifts, where he helped drive a $135 million campaign and plan a successful five-year $250 million campaign.

A graduate of Susquehanna University with a degree in English Literature, Norton holds a master's degree in public relations from American University.

He and his wife Barbara have frequently vacationed in Maine and own a home in Brunswick. An active community volunteer, he has created and executed development campaigns for Hospice of Midcoast Maine, Brunswick's historic First Parish Church, and chaired the development effort for the Curtis Memorial Library.

Norton says, "Barbara and I are very pleased to be joining the UNE team at this exciting time for the university. UNE is a strong educational and economic player in the region with a growing national reputation.  I look forward to working with President Ripich to fulfill the university's strategic vision and to achieve new levels of excellence at UNE."

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.