Longtime Advancement Leader Set to Retire in March After Transformative Tenure

By Melanie Irvin
Office of Development and Alumni Relations

When Peter Wyeth arrived at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1992 as vice president of advancement, he knew the road ahead would be bumpy, but he relished the challenge. Wyeth, who is retiring in March, has helped facilitate the university’s transformation during his tenure.

Wyeth came to campus from the Philadelphia Orchestra, two years after Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D., had been named president. A metamorphosis of the university was taking shape.

The university’s total endowment stood at about $100 million, and the advancement operation was in its infancy.

“The division was immature in its professional support structures and unfocused in its overall strategic fundraising direction and had inadequate resources,” Wyeth said.

With about 15 development officers across VCU’s two campuses, Wyeth aligned fundraising efforts with university goals, beefed up staffing and started raising money.

“That reality and the university’s relatively short history of fundraising required that we launch two back-to-back campaigns, which included a number of projects that were extremely relevant to the top leaders in our community.”

The Partners for Progress campaign was launched in 1992 and raised $199 million by its conclusion in 1999. The Campaign for VCU ended in 2007 and raised $410.3 million, exceeding its goal.

Wyeth credits the strong leadership and vision of Trani, who had a unique ability to foster community involvement, with helping fuel the fundraising successes. Simultaneously, Wyeth and his staff worked to develop strong relationships with business and community leaders who realized that an investment in VCU equaled an investment in the city and the commonwealth.

“Volunteer leaders became the real champions for VCU, helping to change the university’s reputation through their tireless commitment and remarkable generosity,” Wyeth said.

In addition to supporting the university financially, these volunteers served on steering committees, planned events, promoted VCU in their neighborhoods and offices and encouraged others to give.

“Our volunteers played the most important role of all. They gave our fundraising credibility, relevance and wide community influence,” he said.

The most prominent example of this collaboration with volunteers resulted in the creation of the Monroe Park Campus Addition. The oft-told story involves a golf game between Richmond business leaders Steven Markel and Bill Goodwin that resulted in a proposal to Trani to collocate the Schools of Engineering and Business across Belvidere Street.

For Wyeth, that is the crowning experience of his tenure.

“The founding trustees of the School of Engineering Foundation and the School of Business Foundation acquired the land and designed the buildings and the financing plan for this project and then, as if that wasn’t enough, they raised the funds to make the financing plans work. These trustees established a new paradigm for the way this kind of a large project can be built on time and on budget. We owe them more then you can imagine,” Wyeth said.

Another highlight: the successful campaigns to renovate the Richard T. Robertson Alumni House and the MCV Alumni House and Paul Gross Conference Center.

Over the years, Trani turned to Wyeth for leadership in the university’s fundraising efforts.

 “During my presidency, Peter and I had the great pleasure of raising nearly $750 million together,” said Trani, now VCU president emeritus. “Peter was an indefatigable champion of VCU and its academic initiatives. Whether it was working to raise more scholarship funds for VCU students, working on major campaigns like Business and Engineering, the Rice Center, advancing our Medical Center, or any of the many and varied campaigns over the years, Peter cared deeply about VCU's success.”

During Wyeth’s 19-year tenure, the staff has grown to about 150 development, alumni relations and back-office operations professionals.

“I think development and alumni relations has grown in maturity and sophistication in a measured and disciplined way over the last 20 years,” he said. “We have a wonderful group of staff and I hope sincerely their careers have been enhanced because they have worked in advancement at VCU.”

Wyeth has left an indelible mark on VCU, and VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., credits him with taking fundraising  – and therefore the university – to new heights.

“Peter has played a significant role in VCU’s progress over the past 19 years, not the least of which was his leadership of two progressively successful fundraising campaigns totaling investments of more than $781 million in the university. He has left an indelible, proud mark on VCU,” Rao said. “Peter is a great colleague and as a new member of the community, I have especially appreciated his assistance and sincere support.”