EIU Media Relations

EIU Search for VPUA Advances; Names of Finalists Released

Four individuals have been invited to participate in on-site visits as Eastern Illinois University moves forward in its search for the institution's vice president for university advancement.

Pamela Christman of Urbana; James Salmo of Columbia, Mo.; Robert Martin of Auburn, Ala.; and Keith Carver of Martin, Tenn., have been invited to participate in on-site interviews during the month of November.

According to Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs at EIU and chair of the committee that is conducting the national search, Eastern received 56 applications for the VPUA position.

"Clearly, there has been strong interest in the position and we look forward to having the identified candidates visit campus for in-person interviews," Lord said. "With Dr. Nilsen's impending retirement, we are moving as quickly as we are able."

The post became available when Jill Nilsen, who has served as vice president for external relations since 1998, announced her Dec. 31, 2009, retirement. When President Bill Perry announced the search, he also announced his intentions of changing the name of the position to vice president for university advancement.

"This signals internally and externally -- and certainly for the search process -- that the primary emphasis for this position is on fundraising, development and allied activities," Perry said. "The change in emphasis in the position not only represents the growing importance of philanthropy in EIU's future, but narrows the portfolio to enable more time and effort focused on fundraising."

Each of the four candidates will be on Eastern's campus for a day. Open sessions (faculty, staff and students) will take place from 4 to 5 p.m., while community sessions (community, EIU Foundation, EIU Alumni Association) will begin at 7 p.m. (Locations announced below.)

Candidate Pamela Christman currently serves as assistant vice chancellor for institutional advancement and senior director of recruitment and training at the University of Illinois' Office for Institutional Advancement. She spent more than 15 years in the area of development at the U of I before assuming her current position. She holds a bachelor's degree in human resources and family studies and a master's degree in higher education administration from the U of I.

Christman's open and community interviews will take place in Blair Hall, Room 3108, on Friday, Nov. 13.

The second candidate, James Salmo, currently serves as the associate vice chancellor for development/health services at the University of Missouri in Columbia. His previous advancement/development experience includes roles as vice president for advancement at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy; director of development at both the University of Missouri's School of Law and College of Engineering; and director of development at Whitfield School, St. Louis. Salmo received his bachelor's degree in theater from St. Louis University and his master's degree in media/communication from Webster University, St. Louis.

Salmo's open and community interviews will take place in the 1895 Room, MLK Jr. Union, on Monday, Nov. 16.

Robert Martin, assistant vice president for development at Auburn University, previously served as assistant vice chancellor for development and director of major gifts at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga; district vice president, YMCA of Florida's First Coast; and associate executive director of the Owensboro (Ky.) YMCA. He received his bachelor's degree in political science from Lipscomb University and his master's degree in philanthropy and development at St. Mary's University of Minnesota.

Martin's open and community interviews will take place in Booth Library, Room 4440, on Thursday, Nov. 19.

The final candidate, Keith Carver, currently serves as the assistant vice chancellor for development at the University of Tennessee-Martin. He has previously served as director of development and alumni affairs, College of Law, and program adviser, Office of Student Activities, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; and director of special projects and coordinator of experiential education, McDonough Center for Leadership and Business at Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio. Carver received his bachelor's degree in sociology from Memphis State University, and his master's degree in college student personnel and educational leadership from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is a Ph.D. candidate in philosophy (focus on higher education administration) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Carver's open and community interviews will take place in the 1895 Room, MLK Jr. Union, on Monday, Nov. 30.