November 14, 2016

Dear Members of the Trinity College Community,

I am writing to you today to share the news of a change within Trinity’s College Advancement Division.  Vice President for College Advancement Jack Fracasso recently informed me of his intent to retire from the College in June 2017.

Jack came to Trinity in 2012 to lead the College’s fundraising and alumni relations programs.  During his tenure of service to Trinity, Jack has led his team in the tireless pursuit of philanthropic investments for priorities and initiatives enriching Trinity.  Among the achievements of the Advancement Division under Jack’s guidance is a $25 million current-use financial aid fund, ensuring that the most talented students have access to a Trinity education.  His tenure also saw the 2016 opening of Trinity’s long-awaited Gruss Music Center, with rehearsal and performance studios, further establishing the performing arts as an important component of a Trinity liberal arts education.  Also under Jack’s guidance, current-use gifts to support individual teams increased, and Trinity realized a long-planned upgrade of our baseball, softball, and soccer fields.  Our facilities are now better suited to the caliber and success of our student-athletes.  Support for career development programs that prepare Trinity students to compete for top-tier employment and graduate school opportunities also increased, bolstering internship opportunities and creating the Catalyst Leadership Corps.  Before Jack’s tenure ends, we anticipate completing the Crescent Street Building, with substantial philanthropic support of new facilities for neuroscience, digital media, and performing and visual arts.  His reorganization of the Advancement Division also ensures a sustainable staff and program model that prepares Trinity for our next comprehensive campaign and places the building of stronger relationships with alumni, parents, and friends at the core of the advancement mission.

A search to fill the vice president position will commence immediately, and I invite faculty, staff, and students to nominate themselves or others to participate in a small on-campus search committee.  As has been my practice with all vice president searches, the reporting division will not participate on the search committee but will provide input through different channels.  Additionally, because this position interacts to a large extent with off-campus constituencies, alumni and trustees will be key to the search process.  The firm Ahl, Berrien & Partners will facilitate the process for us.  If you are interested in participating as a member of the search committee, please e-mail me at [email protected] by Friday, November 18, with a paragraph detailing what you can bring to the process.  I will choose two to three search committee members from those nominated.

Please join me in wishing Jack well as he transitions from Trinity and more than three decades as a higher education professional.  His unwavering dedication and service have served this College well, and he will be sorely missed.

Sincerely,

Joanne Berger-Sweeney
President and Trinity College
Professor of Neuroscience