For Immediate Release
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Turpen Named Associate Vice President For Development
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – JUNE 22, 2009 – Ken Turpen looks forward to the day when people see 3 million reasons to support The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College.
Turpen, who joined the University in April as the new associate vice president for Development in the Division of Institutional Advancement, wants to see annual giving become a greater part of the University’s annual budget. He said he would like to see giving total at least $3 million yearly.
“I’ve enjoyed being part of the University and I love the collegial environment and the institution is wonderful,” he said. “It’s making a huge difference in many people’s lives. It’s rewarding to be here.”
Turpen said a key to development is reaching out to alumni, a previously untapped resource. He will work closely with new Director of Alumni Relations Marisa Campirano to look for more ways to get alumni involved in the future of the campus.
“We are looking at a whole new way of doing business,” Turpen said. “Our plan is to focus on communicating and building relationships with 150,000 alumni who live throughout the world. We have to look outside the Rio Grande Valley for growth in philanthropy. That’s a night and day difference for us.”
He also wants to get the business community more involved in the University’s philanthropic efforts including the fall Distinguished Lecture Series, the President’s Circle Fund, The Arts Center capital campaign, endowments, building naming opportunities and estate and planned giving.
“Local businesses and corporations benefit by having an educated community in order to recruit employees,” Turpen said. “Businesses give back because they appreciate an educated workforce. There’s a return on their investment when they give back to the University.”
Turpen was born in Southern California and moved to Houston when he was 12.
He has a bachelor’s degree in education from Pan American University (now The University of Texas – Pan American) in Edinburg and a master’s degree in education administration from The University of Nebraska at Kearney. He is also recognized as a Certified Fund Raising Executive by CFRE International.
“Ken has extensive experience in all areas of fund raising, including major gifts, capital campaigns, planned giving, alumni giving and alumni relations,” said Dr. Ruth Ann Ragland, vice president for Institutional Advancement. “He also has experience in training non-profit boards and is a frequent speaker on fund raising, foundation leadership, strategic planning and program development.”
Turpen has worked in secondary education in Texas and Nebraska and is a past executive director of Philanthropic Service for Institutions in Maryland and the University Health Systems Foundation and Pitt Memorial Hospital Foundation, both in North Carolina.
Before coming to the University, Turpen lived in North Carolina and was a senior consultant for Georgia-based Hamilton, Bussell & Associates, a consulting firm specializing in work with non-profit organizations.
“People are a lot more careful with their dollars than they were a year ago, and finances are simply tougher for everyone,” Turpen said. “But you know the more we can show how gifts will make a difference to the students’ lives here at the University, the more possibilities, the more success we will have in increasing giving.”
People interested in giving opportunities can call the Office of Development at (956) 882-4322 or at www.utb.edu/giving.
Turpen’s office is at the Young House. He can be reached at (956) 882-4322 or ken.turpen@utb.edu.