Richard Ortega, University Advancement

Richard has over 27 years of experience in leading advancement offices in higher education settings, which includes the responsibilities of development (fundraising), marketing and communications, and alumni affairs. He has also provided significant service to the advancement profession through the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).  Woven throughout his professional career is an abiding commitment to ensuring success for multicultural populations in rigorous academic programs.

His most recent position was Interim Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the Foundation for California State University Maritime Academy completing there first comprehensive campaign. Previously he was Vice President, University Advancement for Texas A&M University-San Antonio. He served Holy Names University in Oakland California, as the Vice President for University Advancement, where he led the “Ever Forward” sesquicentennial campaign. Richard served as Vice President for Advancement at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, where he planned, implemented, and successfully completed its centennial comprehensive campaign, “Learn, Lead, Serve.”

Contributions to the advancement profession include serving on the CASE Commission on Philanthropy.  He has served as Chair-Elect and various other positions on the Board of Directors for CASE District IV (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Mexico). He has made various presentations at professional conferences on major gift fundraising.   

Richard has an outstanding track record in fundraising, service to the fundraising profession, and in leading efforts to expand opportunities for students in underserved communities with a focus on math and science education. This includes serving as President of the Board of New Mexico Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement, Inc., a non-profit corporation whose mission is to improve the preparation of high school students statewide to enter science and engineering majors. Also, he initiated a Minority Engineering Program at California State University, Sacramento where program participants had the highest retention and graduation rates, and average GPA than any other group of engineering students.

His educational background includes a Doctor of Education degree, with a focus on Educational Leadership, from the University of New Mexico. 

(More information available on the University Advancement website.)