Following a comprehensive national search, Mary Ann Schwartz Graffeo has been named the new vice president for advancement. Graffeo previously served as senior associate dean of advancement at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering.

Photo courtesy USC

Graffeo, who joins the CC leadership team on Aug. 18, will provide strategic direction and leadership for development, advancement services, alumni and parent relations, volunteer leadership, boards, college events, and annual giving.

“Mary Ann is an accomplished team builder and a highly collaborative leader. She brings vision that will help Colorado College become even stronger,” says President L. Song Richardson. “I am excited to build on that vision as we work to increase access, further our antiracism commitment, and dedicate ourselves to continued academic excellence.”

“I am honored and delighted to be joining the Colorado College community of colleagues, friends, alumni, students, and their families,” Graffeo says.

“I look forward to being a part of President Richardson’s leadership team and to supporting her aspirational vision for the future of Colorado College. I am excited about getting started and about helping advance this extraordinary and unique learning community.”

At USC Viterbi, Graffeo’s leadership, strategy, and acumen for fundraising resulted in surpassing Viterbi’s campaign goal of $500 million, achieving the largest single fundraising initiative for an engineering school worldwide. She was personally credited with raising more than $125 million in support of transformative initiatives throughout the school.

During her tenure, Graffeo and her advancement team added 63 new endowed scholarships and fellowships and 30 new endowed chairs and professorships. She launched multiple diversity and equity programs at USC Viterbi Advancement, including an “Equity and Justice Primer” and a department-wide “21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge.”