UBC Names New Vice-President, Development and Alumni Engagement

The University of British Columbia Board of Governors has approved the appointment of an accomplished leader from one of North America’s top public universities to direct its newly consolidated fundraising and alumni relations portfolio.

Barbara Miles will begin her duties as UBC’s first Vice President, Development and Alumni Engagement in January.

Miles comes to UBC with 13 years of successful leadership and fundraising experience at the University of Florida (UF).

As Associate Vice President for Development at UF, Miles has most recently co-directed that institution’s third capital campaign, with a goal of raising $1.5 billion.

“I believe that in Barbara Miles we have found a leader with the relationship-building skills that will help UBC engage our communities and our alumni,” said UBC President Stephen Toope, “and with the international perspective that will advance our growing global connections.”

The new position will oversee UBC’s highly successful development arm, which annually attracts $120 million in support for teaching and research. The position will also direct the university’s growing local and global engagement initiatives with its 250,000 alumni. Toope said that both areas will play a pivotal role as the University pursues its Trek 2010 strategic vision, which includes goals to enhance global excellence in research and teaching in service to the province, Canada and beyond.

“The opportunities at UBC are unique in North America,” Miles said. “With ranking among the world’s 40 best universities, tremendous local, national and international fundraising potential and significant new alumni outreach, UBC is pursuing excellence on all fronts. I am proud to join such an accomplished team whose values and aspirations so closely match my own.”

Miles, 52, is British-born and has lived in the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany and the U.S. She has worked as a high school teacher of music and French and has been a marketing, public relations and fundraising manager for leading performing arts organizations in the Miami area. At the University of Florida she directed regional campaign programs in 16 cities and led development for the UF College of Journalism and Communications. She initiated UF’s international fundraising and alumni relations program and supervised the development programs of four of the university’s largest colleges as part of her role as AVP for Development and Campaign Co-Director.

Miles is a graduate of the University of Southampton and the University of London, Goldsmith’s College.

She comes to Vancouver with husband Mark Monroe, a former real estate investment banking and development executive.  He has served as Director of the Center for Real Estate Studies at UF and Lecturer in Real Estate at the UF Warrington College of Business Administration.  They have two daughters and two grandsons.

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