Sligo Named Senior Director of Advancement

Following a full national search conducted by Isaacson Miller, Sarah Sligo has been named Senior Director of Advancement for the Sam Fox School, effective August 17, 2020.

“Sarah is ideally suited to serve in this important role, with significant major gift and annual fund experience, a proven record of management, and optimal academic alignment, having previously worked at both a leading art and design school (Rhode Island School of Design) and at a large research university (University of Massachusetts Amherst),” said Carmon Colangelo, the Ralph J. Nagel Dean of the Sam Fox School and the E. Desmond Lee Professor for Collaboration in the Arts.

“Sarah has a sophisticated understanding of the mission of the Sam Fox School—her passion for design and the arts, and her commitment to our social equity and inclusion initiatives resonates with us. We are excited for her to lead our Sam Fox School Advancement team, and to further strengthen our relationships with alumni, donors, and the rest of our community.”

Sligo comes to the Sam Fox School from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where she had worked since 2014. She began at RISD as Director of Annual Giving, a role in which she designed, implemented, and evaluated programs that increased and sustained a long-term base of unrestricted support for the university. In 2016 her title was elevated to Director of Individual Giving to reflect new responsibilities such as serving as the Parents Council liaison and managing a limited major gift portfolio. In 2019, she became a Senior Philanthropy Officer, stewarding a portfolio of high-potential prospects while serving as a member of the major giving team.

Prior to RISD, Sligo worked at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) from 2000-2014; during her tenure, she was promoted several times, culminating in her position as Executive Director of Annual Giving. In that role, she managed all Annual Giving programs across the university, working with the ten schools and colleges to develop program-specific, multi-touch campaigns. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Music from UMass Amherst in 2000.

“I’d also like to express my deep appreciation to Chad Ittner for the work he has done as Interim Director of Advancement for the Sam Fox School,” Colangelo said. “Over the past several months, he has done a tremendous job of continuing to lead the School’s advancement initiatives and alumni projects while also laying the foundation for new initiatives. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with him as he transitions back to his full-time role as Assistant Vice Chancellor.