Pamela Buell, a 30-year veteran of higher education development, has been named associate vice chancellor and director of medical alumni and development programs at Washington University in St. Louis.
The appointment, effective July 16, was announced by David T. Blasingame, executive vice chancellor for alumni & development programs, and by Larry J. Shapiro, M.D., executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine. In this capacity, Buell will be chief fundraising and alumni relations officer for Washington University School of Medicine.
“Pamela has extensive experience in major gifts and has held leadership roles in several capital campaigns,” Blasingame said. “She worked closely with another of the nation’s top medical schools and has an exceptional track record in securing significant support for the missions of academic medicine. She will be a great asset to the University, and I am delighted she is joining our team.”
Buell joins Washington University from The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where she had been executive director of development, leadership and principal gifts since 1999. She directed and supervised the principal gifts program that raised more than 76 percent of the total philanthropic dollars at the university and its medical center. In addition, she developed communications and recognition strategies for capital campaigns. Her work on campaign publications and ceremonies won an award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in 2001.
“Washington University School of Medicine is very fortunate that such an accomplished fundraiser and administrator has chosen to join our development team,” Shapiro said. “I am confident that Pamela will enhance the extraordinary alumni relations and development programs serving our medical school, and I look forward to working with her to increase the awareness of, and support for, the marvelous works of our faculty and students.”
Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Buell was director of leadership gifts and regional programs at The Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pa. There she managed the prospect portfolio and developed solicitation strategies in the nucleus phase of a $1 billion comprehensive capital campaign.
Previously, she held key development roles for nearly 20 years at the Indiana University Foundation and at the Indiana University Art Museum.
Buell earned three degrees from Indiana University: an undergraduate degree in French and fine arts and master’s degrees in arts administration and in fine arts with an emphasis in Chinese art history.