NEW YORK (Nov. 1, 2005) — Albert R. Checcio has been appointed vice president for development and university relations at Fordham University. His tenure begins on Jan. 2, 2006.
“In all the posts he has held, Mr. Checcio has shown a remarkable ability to energize his staffs and to galvanize the donor or alumni bases of the institutions he has served,” said Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham University. “On the basis of his extraordinary record, I am confident that his collegiality, creativity and energy will enable the University to build on the success that it has achieved in recent years and to realize the ambitious goals we have set for our annual fund appeals and our upcoming capital campaign.”
Checcio’s appointment comes at an important point in the life of Fordham University as it finalizes a strategic plan and prepares to embark on an aggressive capital campaign to support it. A demonstrated leader in advancement in the not-for-profit sector, Checcio was identified during a national search.
“I was attracted to Fordham’s academic reputation and to the great opportunity to play a significant role at a very critical time in the University’s history,” said Checcio. “I am looking forward to working with the president, trustees and academic deans as partners in our fund-raising efforts, and to reaffirming the significant role of advancement in furthering the mission of Fordham.”
A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Checcio presently serves as the vice president of university relations at American University in Washington, D.C. Since his arrival there in March 2000, Checcio — who also directed government relations, athletics and the marketing and communications program at American — coordinated and launched a capital campaign, and reorganized the development and alumni relations programs. Under his leadership, cash giving to the university was doubled and alumni participation in the annual fund grew from 9 to 20 percent.
“For every university, alumni are vital to the continuance of its mission, both through the lives they lead after graduation and through the support they provide to nourish the university’s growth,” said Checcio. “I am looking forward to meeting Fordham’s alumni, hearing from them and working with them to help Fordham achieve its goals.”
Prior to his tenure at American, Checcio served as the vice president of development and alumni affairs at Temple University, where, over a five-year period, cash giving was increased by 94 percent. In addition, he has held executive fund-raising positions at the University of Pittsburgh, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Drexel University, his alma mater.
“I’ve always been drawn to the mission of not-for-profit organizations. It is gratifying to generate revenue for institutions dedicated to serving the greater good,” said Checcio.
Checcio and his wife, Sue, have two sons, Ian, 29, and Colin, a junior at Rutgers University. He fills a vacant position at Fordham where he will oversee the Office of Development, the Office of Alumni Relations, the Office of Public Affairs, Development Systems, Special Events and Prospect Research.
“Al Checcio brings with him a distinguished and multifaceted record of achievement and we are delighted to welcome him to the University,” said John N. Tognino, FCLS ’75, chair of the Fordham University Board of Trustees, who led the Vice Presidential Search Committee.
