Tom Eschen,\u00a0vice president for Institutional Advancement for Ä¢¹½´«Ã½, will retire effective May 31.\u00a0He leaves a lasting legacy that has helped change the landscape of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½\u2014from new buildings, to innovative academic and outreach programs, increased scholarship support, stronger corporate and foundation partnerships and greater alumni engagement.<\/p>\n
Eschen, who joined Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ in 2008, oversees alumni engagement, advancement services and development, including fundraising for the Annual Fund, major gifts and planned giving.<\/p>\n
Along with a talented team of Institutional Advancement staff, Eschen has been a key catalyst for change and growth at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ over the past decade. Under his leadership, annual fundraising has increased by more than 200 percent, including an increase in the Annual Fund by more than 170 percent. Corporate giving and alumni participation have doubled and the University\u2019s highest annual giving club, the Duchesne Society, has grown nearly 250 percent.<\/p>\n
Establishing an important legacy, Eschen first introduced the late Earl Walker to Ä¢¹½´«Ã½. Walker\u2019s interest and support led to the naming of Myrtle E. and Earl E. Walker Hall and the Walker College of Health Professions, as well as creation of the Walker Medal and numerous scholarships. As part of the Walker gift agreement, the Walker Scottish Rite Clinic for young children with speech and language disorders was incorporated into Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ as a fully integrated program.<\/p>\n
In the past 10 years, Eschen helped Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ develop important partnerships with Mercy, PNC, St. Louis Public Radio and other major corporations and organizations. His outreach efforts include the creation of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½\u2019s unique music therapy program, Kids Rock Cancer<\/a>, and the University\u2019s Women and Leadership program. He also helped expand Ä¢¹½´«Ã½\u2019s presence in the T-REX and Cortex tech communities and Ä¢¹½´«Ã½\u2019s partnership with Parkway School District\u2019s Spark! program.<\/p>\n Eschen\u2019s leadership also fostered the launch of the iconic series of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ pins, the annual Spirit of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ awards, the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Talks Books author series, the Sister Mary Byles Peace & Justice Prize, the\u00a0Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Hillel<\/a> and the Newman Catholic Student Center.<\/p>\n As a part-time consultant, Eschen will continue to support Ä¢¹½´«Ã½’s fundraising efforts with a focus on Kids Rock Cancer and the Walker Scottish Rite Clinic.<\/p>\n