Florida State University Vice President for University Advancement and President of the FSU Foundation Marla Vickers will step down from her position this summer.
Dr. Vickers, an FSU alumna and the first woman to serve in the role, joined Florida State in October 2022 and has led the university’s advancement and alumni engagement efforts during an important period for the institution.
She has overseen fundraising, alumni relations, donor engagement and communications initiatives supporting Florida State’s academic, research and student success priorities while also providing executive leadership to the FSU Foundation Board of Trustees.
During her tenure, Dr. Vickers helped launch and lead Florida State’s new comprehensive fundraising campaign and guided major philanthropic initiatives from a national model of excellence.
Among the most significant milestones during her leadership was Anne Spencer Daves’ landmark gift to the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, resulting in the renaming of the college in her honor. The designation marked the first time an FSU college was named for an alumna and established the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, known as Anne’s College, as the only named education-related college in Florida.
Dr. Vickers also helped advance Dr. Herbert Wertheim’s $65 million investment in the College of Business, the university’s largest endowment gift in its history, which named the Herbert Wertheim College of Business and the Herbert Wertheim Center for Business Excellence. She worked closely with donors, alumni, volunteers and university leaders to strengthen philanthropic support across the university and expand engagement with the FSU community worldwide.
“Marla has provided exceptional leadership for University Advancement and the FSU Foundation during an important period for Florida State University,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “Her leadership was instrumental in advancing our comprehensive campaign and supporting transformative investments such as the renaming of Anne’s College and the Herbert Wertheim College of Business. As a Florida State graduate, she brought a deep understanding of this university and a genuine passion for its future. We are grateful for her service to Florida State and wish her all the best.”
For Dr. Vickers, the opportunity to return to her alma mater and help advance the university’s mission through philanthropy and engagement made her tenure especially meaningful.
“Returning to Florida State to serve my alma mater has been one of the great privileges of my career,” Dr. Vickers said. “I am deeply grateful to President McCullough, our alumni, donors, volunteers, my team and colleagues throughout the university for their partnership and support. Together, we have strengthened the foundation for Florida State’s future, and I will always cherish the opportunity to be part of the university’s continued growth and success.”
Before joining Florida State, Dr. Vickers served as associate vice president of Advancement at Emory University, where she directed fundraising and alumni and constituent engagement efforts for eight academic schools and units. She also held advancement positions at Yale University, the University of Chicago, George Washington University, Duke University and Georgetown University.
Dr. Vickers earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia, a master’s degree from Florida State University, an MBA from George Washington University and a doctoral degree from Vanderbilt University.
Florida State University will launch a national search for its next vice president for University Advancement and president of the FSU Foundation. Information regarding interim leadership will be announced in the coming weeks.