Dean College Appoints Heidi Bruce as Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Alumni & Family Engagement

Dean College has appointed Heidi Bruce, MBA, CFRM, as Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Alumni & Family Engagement.

Bruce brings more than 25 years of experience in fundraising, alumni relations, donor engagement, and institutional advancement. Throughout her career, she has held leadership positions in higher education, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations, helping institutions strengthen advancement operations, increase philanthropic support, and deepen stakeholder engagement.

In her new role, Bruce will provide leadership for Dean College's advancement efforts, including major and planned giving, annual giving, alumni and family engagement, corporate and foundation relations, stewardship, and advancement operations. As a member of the College's senior leadership team, she will work closely with alumni, donors, families, trustees, and friends of the College to support Dean's strategic priorities and strengthen engagement across the College community. 

"We are pleased to welcome Heidi to Dean College," said Interim President Darrell Kulesza. "She brings extensive experience in advancement and alumni engagement, and we look forward to the leadership and perspective she will bring to our efforts to strengthen relationships with alumni, families, donors, and friends of the College." 

Prior to joining Dean College, Bruce served in senior leadership roles at the University of Maryland, Morgan State University, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 

At the University of Maryland, she helped lead fundraising efforts for the Office of Undergraduate Studies, contributing to a campaign that ultimately raised $30 million. She also played a key role in establishing the development infrastructure and foundation for the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, helping to support the organization's long-term fundraising efforts. 

Most recently, Bruce served as Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations and Strategic Engagement at Morgan State University, where she oversaw initiatives focused on alumni engagement, outreach, and relationship building. 

“Dean College has a remarkable history, a passionate alumni community, and a mission that transforms lives," said Bruce. "I am honored to join the College at this exciting time and look forward to partnering with alumni, families, donors, and friends to strengthen connections, expand philanthropic support, and help advance Dean's vision for the future." 

Bruce holds a Master of Business Administration degree and earned her Certificate in Fund Raising Management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. She is a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).