04/14/2021
By Robin Hall

The College of Education invites you to attend a doctoral dissertation defense by Heather Makrez Allen on “Who Makes It Rain? University Presidents, Social Identity, and Alumni Fundraising.”

Date: Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Time: 1:30 p.m. EST
Location: This will be a virtual defense via Zoom. Those interested in attending should email Jack_Schneider@uml.edu at least 24 hours prior to the defense to request access to the meeting.

Dissertation Chair: Jack Schneider, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, College of Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Dissertation Committee:

  • A.J. Angulo, Ed.D., Professor, College of Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Hsien-Yuan Hsu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, College of Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Lauren Turner, Ph.D., Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, Leadership and Organizational Studies, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Abstract:
As universities become more diverse and competitive, it is increasingly important to understand the impact of the president on fundraising. Research exists on the race and gender of the presidents, on their role in fundraising and their leadership traits that enable or impede it (Cahill, 2003; Hodson, 2010; Kezar & Wheaton, 2017; Meindl, 2001; Sargeant & Lee, 2004; Satterwhite, 2004 Stovall, 2004; Sturgis, 2006). However, social identities university presidents, including race, gender, and prior position, and their impact on fundraising is rarely combined in these studies.


This study focuses on this gap in the literature. I present the following hypotheses: race, gender, and/or prior position of the president impact alumni participation and alumni giving as percent of total giving. Furthermore, when institutions have a critical mass of 20% diversity or more in their alumni body, there is a higher correlation with the president’s race and fundraising results. The study finds that race, gender, and prior position do not impact alumni participation, however, prior position is a positive statistically significant impactor on alumni giving as a percent of total giving. Also, when moderating for alumni diversity demographics, the race of the president impacts both alumni participation and alumni giving as a percent of total giving. I discuss the practical interpretation of these results and implications for fundraising and demographic reporting strategies moving forward.