Senior director of development appointed for VCU Life Sciences and Graduate School

By Malorie Burkett and Kosha Joshi

RICHMOND, Va. (Nov. 11, 2004) – Elizabeth Taraski, Ph.D. has been named senior director of development of Virginia Commonwealth University Life Sciences and the VCU Graduate School.

Taraski comes to VCU with more than 15 years experience in strategic fund-raising planning for universities. In her dual role at VCU, Taraski will lead fund-raising efforts to support university initiatives across both the Monroe Park and MCV campuses. 

Specifically, efforts for VCU Life Sciences will include fund-raising plans to support the four Life Sciences centers – the Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, the Center for Environmental Sciences, the Center for Life Sciences Education and the Inger and Walter Rice Center for Environmental Sciences.

For the Graduate School, Taraski will lead efforts to secure financial assistance for graduate students with fellowships and funding for research and professional enhancement activities, such as conferences or other opportunities where graduate students can present research and meet prominent individuals in their fields of study.

Prior to joining VCU, Taraski was executive director of community relations, donor relations and major gifts at the University of Richmond. She also was director of the Administration and Industrial Relations Multi-Lifecycle Engineering Research Center at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Taraski earned her doctoral degree in higher education administration from Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J.; a master’s degree in management in public administration from the New York University Robert Wagner School of Public Service; and a master’s degree in education and supervision administration from Rutgers University.