Margaret Onken has been named vice president for development, beginning June 1. Onken, a St. Louis resident for 30 years, is an innovative and successful fundraising professional who builds dynamic relationships and values collaboration across key endeavors.
鈥淲e are pleased to welcome Margaret to 91制片厂,鈥� said Lombardi. 鈥淎s a strategic manager with a long record of accomplishments, she brings valuable fundraising and partnership expertise to our leadership team. We look forward to expanding Maryville鈥檚 relationships with donors, friends and corporate and civic communities in important new ways.鈥�
Onken will direct all aspects of Maryville鈥檚 Office of Development, including giving programs, corporate and foundation relations, alumni engagement and development operations.
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to join this world-class institution,鈥� Onken said. 鈥淧resident Lombardi鈥檚 vision for revolutionizing student learning and the higher education model presents an exciting opportunity for me. I鈥檓 eager to get to work.鈥�
Most recently, Onken was senior advisor for Let America Vote, overseeing national fundraising and donor relationships. Appointed by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, Onken has also served as executive director for the Hawthorn Foundation, where she directed the annual budget and worked with statewide leaders, including university administrators, on economic development initiatives. In that role, she was a member of the senior management team at the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
As finance director for Jay Nixon鈥檚 successful gubernatorial election and re-election campaigns, Onken raised $33 million over eight years, a political fundraising record at the time. She was principal for Onken and Associates, a development and organizational consultant firm for nonprofits and political campaigns.
Onken earned her BA in theater and Modern European Studies from Smith College in Northampton, MA. She is a faculty-in-residence for the Sue Shear Institute for Women at the University of Missouri St. Louis, and is a member of the board of directors for Doorways, a local nonprofit organization.
At Maryville, Onken replaces Tom Eschen, who announced his retirement after 10 years as vice president of institutional advancement.