4:24 p.m., Oct. 8, 2008----Armand Battisti has joined UD's College of Engineering as director of development, after spending nine years at the Winterthur Museum & Country Estate, where he served as deputy director of development and director of leadership gifts. Prior to his appointment at Winterthur, he led West Chester University through its first capital campaign, Windows to the Future, raising $13 million.

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According to Dean Michael Chajes, Battisti brings to the University 29 years' of institutional advancement experience with academic institutions, nonprofits and companies. He has worked in virtually all aspects of development and fundraising, including individual, corporate, foundation, planned giving, membership and government relations.

“I was attracted to the University of Delaware by the tremendous excitement that's building here,” Battisti says. “Following the creation of a children's garden and several other mini-campaigns at Winterthur, I was ready for an exciting new opportunity.”

“In my field, it's the challenge that's enticing,” he notes.

For Battisti, engineering is the enticing new challenge. “Engineers can improve upon issues facing the country and the world right now,” he says, “with developments in alternative fuels, lightweight materials and other technologies to solve problems related to energy, the environment and human health. I'm looking forward to learning about all of Delaware's engineering research.”

In conjunction with the University's Path to Prominence^TM, the College of Engineering is developing its own strategic plan. “The objectives of that plan, once shared and shaped with both internal and external stakeholders, will likely become the objectives of a capital campaign,” Battisti says. “Our internal audience, including faculty and department chairs, will be a tremendous resource in engaging outside sources.”

Although he has just begun the planning process, Battisti sees a number of strategies--including raising funds for endowed chairs, student scholarships, and faculty awards--as integral to any campaign aimed at demonstrating the strengths of the college and securing its future.

His plans also include accompanying the dean to make presentations in some key geographic areas that have a concentration of engineers. In addition, because the development position in engineering has been vacant for several years, he wants to renew contact with previous donors while also working to establish relationships with new friends of the college.

“I am confident that Armand will hit the ground running in working to revitalize the strong pipeline left by Deirdre Smith upon her departure a few years ago,” Chajes says. “He will lead the College's fundraising efforts as we plan and implement the next campaign.”

Battisti is a board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). He earned his bachelor's degree in environmental science from Elmira College and his master's in community services administration from Alfred University, both in New York.

Article by Diane Kukich
Photo by Kathy Atkinson