Jersey City, N.J. – January 28, 2015 –Saint Peter’s University today announced that Leah Leto, former associate vice president for advancement and external affairs at Saint Peter’s University, has been promoted to the role of vice president for advancement and external affairs. Leto’s promotion follows the conclusion of Students at the Center: The Campaign for Saint Peter’s University, the largest capital campaign in the University’s history.
“Leah was integral to the success of Students at the Center: The Campaign for Saint Peter’s University, in which she oversaw the leadership gifts program and personally secured several million dollars for the Campaign,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University. “Given Leah’s successful track record with Saint Peter’s, I have absolute confidence in her ability to lead our advancement and external affairs priorities moving forward.”
Leto began her career at Saint Peter’s in 2002 as an alumni relations officer and has served the advancement department for more than 12 years. In her most recent role as associate vice president for advancement and external affairs, she supervised an eight person team, worked closely with alumni to secure support for critical University priorities, set capital campaign strategy and collaborated with board members and University leadership. In addition, she oversaw corporate and foundation relations, major gifts, board management, planned giving, advancement records, donor relations and prospect research. In her new role she will oversee those areas as well as alumni engagement and University communications.
During her time at Saint Peter’s Leto has led efforts to streamline operational processes within advancement, fortified donor stewardship and scholarship administration practices, built strong relationships with faculty, staff and administrators and developed a best-in-class prospect management system that has been shared with other institutions. Saint Peter’s corporate and foundation relations efforts have grown under her leadership and will be crucial to the University’s fundraising success moving forward.
“I am honored to lead the advancement and external affairs team at such a pivotal moment in Saint Peter’s history,” said Leto. “As we celebrate the historic achievement of concluding the largest capital campaign in the University’s history, I am dedicated to maintaining this momentum in order to build on the solid foundation that we have established. In the coming months and years, I am confident that – fueled by the support of our loyal donors – we will continue to see Saint Peter’s University shine brighter and brighter.”
Leto received bachelor’s degrees in art history and French from Vassar College and began her career as a production assistant at the Metropolitan Opera Association. She went on to serve as an associate in the development and membership offices at The Newark Museum before joining the Saint Peter’s team. She obtained a master’s degree in education from Saint Peter’s in 2005.
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