ADVANCING NORTHWEST
UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT, NORTHWEST FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES STAFF CHANGES
NORTHWEST TO CELEBRATE OPENING OF AG LEARNING CENTER, COMPLETION OF CAMPAIGN Northwest will celebrate the opening of its Agricultural Learning Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 30 – a day that also will mark the end of the University’s successful Forever Green comprehensive campaign. The public is invited to the Agricultural Learning Center ribboncutting at 9 a.m. July 30 at the R.T. Wright Farm, located north of the Northwest campus at 22893 U.S. Highway 71 in Maryville. The event will include a short program and tours of the facility. “The grand opening of the Agricultural Learning Center is the perfect exclamation point as we conclude the Forever Green campaign,” Mitzi Craft Marchant ’91, ’09, vice president of university advancement and executive director of the Northwest Foundation, said. “The ALC has been a dream for many years, and to see it come to fruition is truly something to celebrate.” The $11.4 million, 29,000-squarefoot multipurpose facility will enhance the School of Agricultural Sciences, under the direction of Dr. Rod Barr ’87, ’95, ’09. With laboratory, kitchen and exposition space as well as classrooms and offices, the new building will position the School to advance its curriculum while meeting the needs of enrollment and program growth. The facility also will allow for research and scholarly activities centered on crop, soil and livestock resources as well as space for processing agricultural products. It will include space for public and private functions such as producer and agricultural industry
meetings, workshops, shows and career development events. Launched in 2014, the Forever Green campaign is an initiative of the Northwest Foundation, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation responsible for developing and stewarding philanthropic resources for the benefit The University and students. The campaign, which is just the second in the University’s history, sought to raise $45 million for academic excellence, scholarships, student life and other donor-directed gifts. Upon going public with the campaign in 2019, donors had already provided nearly $43 million. As the campaign ends this summer, donors have provided more than $54 million. In addition to the Agricultural Learning Center, the Hughes Fieldhouse opened in October 2018 as another key component of the campaign and the single largest publicprivate partnership in Northwest’s history. The 137,250 square-foot facility features a 90-yard practice turf, 300-meter indoor competition track and meeting rooms. Further, the campaign is helping the Northwest Foundation dramatically increase scholarship awards to students. The Forever Green campaign aimed to raise $10.5 million for scholarships and, to date, has secured more than $13.1 million in scholarship support. Additionally, it is adding support to University faculty with initiatives such as the Dennis C. Dau Endowed Professorship in Instrumental Music.
Northwest and the Northwest Mitzi Marchant Foundation announced in March the appointment of Mitzi Craft Marchant ’91, ’09, to the position of vice president of university advancement and executive director of the Northwest Foundation. Marchant joined Northwest in 1999 and has a bachelor’s degree in public relations and Jill Brown a master’s degree in higher education leadership. During her time at the institution she has filled the roles of vice president of university relations, chief public relations officer, director of advancement communication, director of information and marketing, and communication assistant. She also served as an adjunct faculty member in the School of Communication and Mass Media, teaching courses in public relations. Most recently, she was Northwest’s director of donor engagement as well as director of corporate and foundation relations. “The Foundation could not be happier to have Mitzi assume the VP position,” Dr. Bob Burrell ’70, the president of the Northwest Foundation, said. “The Forever Green campaign is experiencing great success, and Mitzi has been a driving force in our efforts. I know she has the full support of the Foundation and the University Advancement team as she takes on her new role. We look forward to great things ahead for the Foundation and for Northwest.” Additionally, Jill Brown has joined the Office of University Advancement and the Northwest Foundation as director of corporate relations and major gift officer. She is responsible for strategically strengthening Northwest’s relationship with existing corporate partners and seeking financial support from new partners as well as working with alumni and friends who desire to financially support the University. Brown joined Northwest in 2017 and most recently served as director of partnerships and placement, overseeing Career Services and playing an instrumental role in furthering profession-based learning opportunities. An alumna of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, she has more than 15 years of higher education and corporate relations experience. NORTHWEST ALUMNI MAGAZINE I SUMMER 2021
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