AUSTIN, Texas—Vice President for Resource Development Johnnie Ray, who led The University of Texas at Austin’s capital campaign that has raised more than $1.5 billion, has resigned to become senior vice president for institutional advancement at Emory University in Atlanta.
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Johnnie Ray
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Photo: Marsha Miller |
Ray has directed the “We’re Texas” capital campaign, whose original goal was $1 billion, for the past seven years. That goal was achieved five years into the seven-year campaign. At the same time as he led the campaign, Ray also built the university’s first modern development operation, an organization that now exceeds 150 staff.
“We couldn’t have asked for a more capable and visionary leader to direct the university’s development efforts,” said President Larry R. Faulkner. “Johnnie Ray’s creativity and dedication will be greatly missed. I am pleased that he has the chance to pursue such a prestigious opportunity.”
Ray also played a leading role in the creation of two highly innovative ventures at The University of Texas at Austin. UTOPIA, a digital gateway to the institution’s cultural treasures and intellectual resources, is a Web site available to a general audience and it includes special resources for K-12 teachers in Texas. The UT Film Initiative is a public-private consortium in which university faculty and students will work with leading film industry talent to produce commercial films for widespread distribution.
“I am so very thankful to have had the opportunity to work at this great university for these past seven years,” Ray said. “My commitment to UT will carry on for the rest of my life. Dr. Faulkner has said that because of its scale combined with quality, UT has more impact on its supporting society than any university in America. I believe that is an absolute fact.”
Ray’s new position at Emory will entail responsibility for all externally focused institutional operations, including development, advancement services, alumni affairs, public affairs and communications, and university hospitality. He will assume his new position July 1.
Ray came to the university in 1998 from the Pennsylvania State University, where he was director of development and alumni affairs for the Eberly College of Science. He previously had served as associate vice president for development and university relations for McMurry University in Abilene, Texas.
Ray is a graduate of Texas Tech University.
For more information contact: Jim Kunetka, 512-475-9641, or Sheila Allee, 512-475-9672.
