Christine Nichols Named Sr. Director of Development and Alumni Relations
Christine Nichols Named Sr. Director of Development and Alumni Relations
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Christine Nichols, a veteran Silicon Valley development officer with extensive experience in higher education and the non-profit sector, has been named Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations for UTA's College of Engineering.
“I am excited to join UTA’s College of Engineering. As a newly-minted R1 University with a reputation for producing excellent engineers for Texas as well as nationally, the College has limitless possibilities,” Nichols said.
At Santa Clara, she worked to build relationships with high-level donors in support of the School of Engineering and the $850 million Campaign for Santa Clara 2020. In fiscal year 2015, she solicited more than $5 million in gifts for the School, successfully closing $3.5 million in direct gifts, including a $1.5 million planned gift and a $1 million endowed scholarship for computer engineering students. She also oversaw all of the School’s fundraising related to a $400 million Stem Initiative.
“Christine’s experience in building relationships and obtaining support from alumni and private donors will be a huge asset to the College, and we are delighted to add her to the staff,” said Peter Crouch, dean of UTA’s College of Engineering.
“We are the third-largest engineering school in Texas, and our alumni are increasingly influential in this region and around the world. Christine will leverage our connectedness to alumni and industry leaders to bolster our ability to offer the best education and research opportunities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.”
Prior to becoming Director of Development and External Relations at Santa Clara, Nichols was an associate director for major gifts for the university. In that role, she cultivated a portfolio of prospects from Texas, Washington and California and raised more than $9 million in six years.
In addition to her experience in higher education, Nichols was executive director of Rota Care Bay Area in Gilroy, Calif. from 2004-07 and development director for Hillbrook School in Los Gatos, Calif. from 2001-03. She has also served as a member of the Boards of Directors of the Art Docents of Los Gatos and the Los Gatos Elementary Education Foundation. She started her professional career in Texas, having served as executive director of the Corporate Child Development Fund in Austin and as public affairs manager for Tenneco, Inc., in Houston.
Nichols earned a Master of Public Affairs degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Southern California.