President Lester Lefton announced who will be vice president for institutional advancement, a newly created position in the university’s administration, earlier this morning.

Eugene J. Finn, currently the associate vice president of advancement at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., will start the position at the beginning of April.

University spokesman Ron Kirksey said Finn will head the university’s fundraising efforts and be in charge of alumni relations. With increasingly stagnant and unstable state financing, fundraising has become increasingly important.

“This person will be dedicated to just doing that,” Kirksey said.

Kathy Stafford, vice president for university relations and development, will no longer head the university’s fundraising campaigns. Her position will concentrate on government relations, university communications and marketing.

Contact administration reporter Tim Magaw at [email protected].