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ESF Announces New Division of Advancement
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Jan. 24, 2024 – The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) — one of the nation’s premier colleges focused exclusively on the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable future — announces the creation of the Division of Advancement.
ESF offices and affiliated organizations that work with external partners will now be part of ESF’s Division of Advancement. This includes the offices of alumni relations, career services, and development, as well as the ESF College Foundation, Abby Lane Housing Corporation, and ESF Alumni Association.
“This consolidation will unite the inter-connected work of several offices to help ESF strategically align, activate, and maximize resources to increase engagement, support philanthropy, identify new partnership opportunities, and raise ESF’s visibility,” said ESF President Joanie Mahoney.
Brenda Greenfield serves as Chief Advancement Officer and Executive Director, ESF College Foundation and Subsidiaries, and oversees the Division. She joined ESF in 1999 and most recently served as the Assistant Vice President for Development and Executive Director of the ESF Foundation. During her tenure, Greenfield has led an unprecedented period of growth in fundraising and asset development for the Foundation, from $8 million to over $75 million. She also implemented ESF’s first multi-year comprehensive fundraising campaign, surpassing the goal of $20 million 18 months ahead of schedule.
“While our name is changing, the core work of promoting ESF to external supporters remains the same,” said Greenfield. “This is an exciting opportunity to expand the team and increase our efforts to tell a wider audience about the amazing things happening at ESF.”
Most higher education institutions have an advancement function tasked with engaging external audiences to promote and philanthropically support the institution. The core functions of each ESF office within the Division of Advancement are as follows:
- Alumni Relations: Engage, connect, and support alumni, students, and the College community.
- Development: Build relationships with benefactors and partners whose support positively impacts thousands of ESF students every year.
- Career Services: Support students seeking career placement and internship opportunities and increase corporate engagement and partnerships.
- Foundation: To increase assets and manage them in a manner that is both fiscally prudent and consistent with the principles and policies of the College community.
The biggest change under the restructuring is moving Career Services from Student Affairs.
“Our dedicated and holistic approach to building relationships with corporations is anticipated to help increase corporate support for ESF students and academic programs,” said Greenfield.
About ESF
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable and resilient future through design, policy, and management of the environment and natural resources. Members of the College community share a passion for protecting the health of the planet and a deep commitment to the rigorous application of science to improve the way humans interact with the world. The College offers academic programs ranging from the associate of applied science to the Doctor of Philosophy. ESF students live, study and do research on the main campus in Syracuse, N.Y., and on 25,000 acres of field stations in a variety of ecosystems across the state.