By Greg Gatlin
In his seven years as senior vice president for advancement, Colm Renehan, PhD, built an operation that has produced the best fundraising results in the University’s history, including multimillion-dollar contributions in support of institutional priorities.
But colleagues, alumni, and friends who packed the Sargent Hall Commons in late February to celebrate Renehan on the occasion of his retirement also made clear their genuine affection for the man, including his distinctive Irish wit, his collegiality, and his friendship.
“I am incredibly grateful to you, Dr. Renehan, for all that you have done for this University,” Suffolk President Marisa Kelly told him from the podium. “I am going to miss you personally as a colleague, as a friend, and I know the entire Suffolk community is going to miss you.”
Kelly called Renehan “a true institutional thinker” who, as a member of the University’s leadership team, always looked to move the institution forward as a whole. Many advancement leaders see “dollars in the door” as the only thing that matters, she said.
“But Colm has been incredible in understanding that it had to be done in a way that made sense for us as an institution, in alignment with our mission, our goals, and with what we needed to achieve as a community. That is a rare thing to find in somebody who is as successful in the world of advancement as Colm has been.”
In spite of a pandemic, Suffolk achieved its six best years for cash donations in its history and several other fundraising records under Renehan’s leadership. He built major and principal gift and planned giving programs, expanded events, and improved alumni and donor communications, research, and volunteer programming. He had a vision of building a culture of philanthropy at Suffolk and bringing the advancement program to new levels of success. “And that he has done,” said Caitlin Haughey, MEd ’96, associate vice president for advancement engagement and alumni relations.
He also built a diverse and dedicated advancement team and a structure that will serve the University for years to come. Renehan, who recently created the Colm Renehan Fund to support the Law School’s Immigration Clinic, thanked the Suffolk community, including each member of his team by name.
“Thank you for being the force for good that you are,” he said, “and for letting me be a part of it for the past seven years.”
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Photograph by Michael J. Clarke
mission driven
