Peterson stepping down from Alumni Affairs

FROM RICE NEWS STAFF REPORTS

After 17 years in the Office of Alumni Affairs, alumna Ann Peterson ’86 is stepping down as executive director to spend more time with her family. She will continue to work in the Office of Resource Development, where she will serve as executive director of engagement effectiveness.

	ANN PETERSON

”On behalf of both the university and the Association of Rice Alumni (ARA), I thank Ann for her years of dedicated service to the ARA and her willingness to stay on board to take on new responsibilities,” said Gloria Meckel Tarpley ’81, ARA president. ”Her devotion and leadership to the ARA have been extraordinary and will be missed.”

In her new role, Peterson will oversee the rollout of the Centennial Alumni Census and assist Vice President for Resource Development Darrow Zeidenstein and senior management in designing a Resource Development self-study.

”While we will miss Ann’s experience and leadership at the ARA, I am pleased that she has taken on new responsibilities to help make our organization more effective overall,” Zeidenstein said.

Peterson has been a member of the alumni affairs team since 1994. She spent most her years there working with Rice’s alumni regional groups and helped establish the student send-off program and Alumni College ”On the Road.” She helped plan and implement some of Rice’s largest regional events, including the New Orleans Bowl Pregame in 2006, East and West Coast Centennial Campaign Launches, the 2003 and 2008 College World Series Pregame gatherings, and countless presidential receptions.

Peterson was named director of alumni affairs and university events in 2007. Under her leadership, the alumni team consistently ranked among the top institutions in the annual Private College and University Alumni Directors benchmarking survey. Additional key accomplishments included helping guide the ARA board’s 2008 Centennial Campaign endorsement and subsequent ARA board commitment to 100 percent giving to the Annual Fund, and the adoption of the recent ARA Strategic Plan.

While a national search for Peterson’s successor is conducted, alumna Karen George ’77 will serve as interim executive director. George has been a member of the ARA board and the Rice Board of Trustees. Karen Rubinsky, executive director for development services in Resource Development, will serve as interim chief operating officer of alumni affairs and handle day-to-day management of the office.