Founded in 1890, Washington State University is Washington’s land-grant university and one of two public research universities in the state. With the goal of improving the quality of life for people within the state and around the world, WSU is committed to innovation and excellence in research and scholarship as well as accessibility and affordability for its state’s residents. U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 “America’s Best Colleges” rankings place WSU at number 79 in public national universities.

Washington State’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) is one of the nation’s premier agricultural programs and is consistently ranked within the top 40 such programs by U.S. News and World Report. The program is made up of 16 academic units, four research and extension centers, and 40 county and tribal extension offices across the state, giving it the largest regional presence of any college at WSU and allowing it to take full advantage of Washington’s rich agricultural industry and resources.

The Opportunity

CAHNRS experienced great success during WSU’s most recent $1 billion campaign and represents one of WSU’s greatest fundraising powerhouses in its next endeavor. However, this is only the beginning for CAHNRS. Reporting to Dean André-Denis Gerard Wright and working closely with the WSU Foundation and its current and prospective donors, the Senior Director of Development will have an unprecedented opportunity to create deep and meaningful impact across the campuses, throughout the state of Washington, and nationally. Distilling CAHNRS concepts and projects into stories of impact for donors at all levels, the Senior Director will demonstrate hands-on, cooperative leadership, and true fundraising expertise while mentoring staff and securing major gifts.