Central Valley Native to Increase Visibility of Newest UC Campus
MERCED, CA. – Chancellor Carol Tomlinson-Keasey today announced
the appointment of John Garamendi, Jr. as vice chancellor for
University Relations at the University of California, Merced.
Garamendi, an accomplished university fund-raiser and accomplished
development strategist, will begin his position on June 1, 2005.
Tomlinson-Keasey made the announcement after the completion of a
six-month national search process and following approval this
afternoon by the UC Board of Regents.
Garamendi’s background includes a highly successful track record
in fund raising and an intimate knowledge of the UC system from his
years working at UC Berkeley, UC Davis and the UC Office of the
President. His current position is director of Corporate and
Foundation Relations at UC Berkeley. Appointed to the post in 2002,
he has been responsible for developing and directing campus
strategy for the coordination and solicitation of funding from
local, regional and national corporations and foundations. During
fiscal year 2003-04, UC Berkeley raised $71.4 million from
corporations and foundations.
“John is regarded as a dynamic leader in the field of university
fundraising, and he will provide essential strategic direction to
our fundraising efforts at UC Merced,” said Tomlinson-Keasey. “In
addition, his understanding and commitment to the Central Valley
will make him especially effective in establishing relationships
with corporations, foundations and donors in the region.”
As an experienced development professional, Garamendi has been
part of several prominent fund-raising campaigns, including UC
Berkeley’s $1.1 billion
Campaign for the New Century, UC Davis’ $60 million
Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts Campaign, and the
planning for UC Berkeley’s
Campaign for Memorial Stadium.
As vice chancellor for University Relations, Garamendi will
report to the chancellor and serve as a member of the chancellor’s
cabinet. The vice chancellor is the chief advancement officer for
the UC Merced campus with responsibility for the areas of
development, university relations, governmental relations,
communications, the UC Merced Foundation and its Board of Trustees,
alumni affairs, and special events and protocol.
Garamendi said that he was attracted to UC Merced because of the
opportunities presented by creating the 10th campus of the UC
system and his desire to contribute to the positive development of
his native San Joaquin Valley.
“The opportunity to help shape the future of UC Merced holds
extraordinary professional and emotional appeal for me,” he said.
“As a native of the region, I understand what this campus means to
our future, and I appreciate the role of this position as the
bridge between the campus and the community.”
While at UC Berkeley, Garamendi also served as UC Berkeley’s
interim executive associate athletic director of External Affairs
from July 2003 to January 2004. In that position he carried
responsibility for all fund raising for the UCB Department of
Intercollegiate Athletics.
From 1999-2002, Garamendi served as director of Corporate and
Foundation Relations at UC Davis, where he was responsible for
strategic fundraising from local, regional and national
corporations and foundations. Among his notable accomplishments, he
was the primary fund-raiser for contributions from corporations and
foundations toward the $60-million Mondavi Center, a renowned
performing arts venue. He also worked extensively in the
development of marketing strategies for campus fund-raising efforts.
Previously, Garamendi served as a regional development director
at UC Berkeley, responsible for major gifts in San Francisco,
Marin, Napa and Sonoma counties, and for the $1.1 billion
Campaign for the New Century. He has also served as
Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs and Community Outreach in the
UC Office of the President. As Assistant Director he designed and
implemented a statewide Community Speakers Bureau and conducted
outreach and advocacy for Alumni Associations of the University of California.
Garamendi also brings to UC Merced his notable public service
experience in international settings. In 2003 he was selected to be
a Fulbright Scholar in Uruguay (South America) where he taught and
conducted research on philanthropy at the University of Montevideo.
Additionally, he has served as a community health coordinator for
the U.S. Peace Corps in Paraguay (South America).
Garamendi grew up in the delta community of Walnut Grove and
attended high school in Stockton. An Eagle Scout, he holds a
bachelor’s degree in history from UC Berkeley, where he was a
Distinguished Military Graduate ROTC, and earned his MBA at
California State University, Hayward.
Garamendi and his wife, Dr. Colleen Denny-Garamendi, a faculty
member at the UC Davis School of Medicine’s Department of Public
Health Sciences, intend to make their home in the Merced area. They
have two children.
