Christopher E. Iansiti has assumed the role of chair of the Florida State University Foundation Board of Trustees.
He succeeds Nancy McKay, who chaired the board the previous two years, including a fiscal-year 2022 that saw more than $93 million in gifts and pledges from alumni and supporters – the second-highest giving year in a decade.
Iansiti, a Naples resident and decorated FSU alumnus, previously served as the board’s chair-elect and chair of the Trusteeship and Engagement Committee. He began his new role on July 1.
“Last year was a historic one for the FSU Foundation,” said Michael Hartline, interim vice president for University Advancement and interim president of the FSU Foundation. “I, along with the entire team, look forward to working with Chris to build on that success and continue to enhance the academic vision and priorities of FSU.”
As chair of the board’s Trusteeship and Engagement Committee, Iansiti focused on creating a fair and equitable process for board nominations, including emphasizing the need for diversity among trustees. In prior years, he chaired the organization’s Development Committee.
He aims to continue the momentum from McKay’s tenure. FSU’s Great Give enjoyed its most successful year in 2022 — raising $1,693,923 from 4,537 donors in just 24 hours in March. McKay also emphasized trustee engagement, brought greater focus to the university’s endowment and oversaw the creation and implementation of the FSU Foundation’s current three-year strategic plan.
“Nancy left big shoes to fill, but the success we have been experiencing year over year is the cumulation of not only her hard work, but the work of every trustee and staff member,” Iansiti said. “I want to work closely with the new Foundation president, whom we anticipate welcoming soon, to help align advancement across the university and prepare for the next big fundraising push for Florida State.”
The Florida State University Foundation ended fiscal year 2022 with $93,770,018 in gifts and pledges, an unaudited total surpassed only by the fiscal year in which Jan Moran and The Jim Moran Foundation pledged $100 million to FSU. Of the more than $93 million, $42,266,218 in gifts were designated for endowed funds, where the initial gift is invested and Florida State benefits from these returns in perpetuity. A healthy endowment is critical to the long-term success of the university.
Iansiti founded and recently sold IANSITI Performance Group Inc., an organizational performance consulting firm, which boasts a client roster of well-known national and global corporations. Prior to the formation of IANSITI Performance Group, he worked as an officer with Delphi Performance Consulting Inc. and as a consultant with Accenture and Arthur Andersen.
Iansiti received both his Bachelor of Science in finance and Master of Science in instructional systems from FSU. He was honored as Outstanding Alumnus of the Year in 2011 by the FSU College of Education and awarded the Gagne/Briggs Outstanding Alumnus for the Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies Department in 2013.
Iansiti has his certificate in advanced coaching from the Center for Leadership Design and has been a guest contributor for CNN’s “Jobless, Not Hopeless” segment. He is a former member of the Instructional Systems Alumni Council and past chair of the FSU College of Business Board of Governors. Iansiti’s personal giving supports students in business, education and entrepreneurship. He also gives to The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the state art museum of Florida and part of Florida State University’s College of Fine Arts.
The FSU Foundation is governed by an elected board of trustees whose members are professionals from many walks of life and work to build successful partnerships with FSU and its many generous supporters. Iansiti will lead the board and oversee the work of its committees: Audit, Development, Donor Stewardship, Executive, Finance, Investment, and Trusteeship and Engagement, along with numerous task forces. They aim to serve as the guiding force related to strategic matters around academic fundraising, support the staff in their work and steward the university’s many supporters.
For more information, visit foundation.fsu.edu.