Grabowski stepping down as VP for advancement

Rod Grabowski, vice president for university advancement, is leaving UB to become senior vice president for advancement and partnerships at the University of Central Florida.

Grabowski, who has led UB’s advancement efforts since December 2017, begins his new job Sept. 6.

In announcing Grabowski’s plans to the university community, President Satish K. Tripathi said that Grabowski “has helped elevate the importance of philanthropy and its profound impact on our university mission.”

Tripathi praised Grabowski’s role in the Boldly Buffalo campaign, which has been so successful that UB surpassed its goal of $650 million a full year early, and now has raised $879.2 million toward an extended goal of $1 billion.

“Today, this historic campaign is playing a critical role in our ambition to situate UB among the top 25 public research universities in the nation,” Tripathi said, “and together with Rod and his team, we have aligned the campaign’s goals with our Top 25 Ambition.”

He noted that the number of endowed chairs and professorships at UB has increased 75%, and that 360 new scholarships and fellowships have been created.

“Across UB’s many constituencies, our culture of philanthropy and engagement has grown and flourished with Rod’s dedicated stewardship,” he said.

Tripathi said he will name an interim vice president for university advancement in the coming weeks, with the search process for a new vice president beginning in the fall.