Texas A&M Foundation Announces New Vice Presidents For Engagement

The Texas A&M Foundation today announced the promotions of four team members to vice president for engagement (VPE) as part of a restructure to its development organization, effective July 1.

Collectively, the new VPEs have more than 30 years of fundraising experience at the Foundation.

Andrew “Andy” Acker will oversee development efforts in the College of Engineering, College of Geosciences, the Galveston Campus of Texas A&M University and Texas A&M University at Qatar.

Michael “Mike” Bottiglieri ’89 will oversee development efforts in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Architecture, College of Education and Human Development, College of Liberal Arts and Mays Business School.

Chastity Carrigan ’16 will oversee development efforts in the Bush School of Government and Public Service, Health Science Center, School of Law, College of Science, and College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

Tom Pool ’96 will oversee the Foundation’s central development team, including its offices of Gift Planning, Corporate & Foundation Relations and Donor Engagement. He will also oversee a new Discovery unit focused on engaging prospective donors of all generations for Texas A&M. At the university, he will oversee fundraising for the Corps of Cadets, Division of Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Veterans Affairs and the University Libraries.

As one of Texas A&M University’s affiliate fundraising organizations, the Foundation enables academic partnerships for Texas A&M through purposeful philanthropy. The Foundation annually makes millions of dollars available for the benefit of Texas A&M students, faculty, colleges and programs and manages the university’s endowment. In fiscal year 2019, the Foundation made $108 million available. These funds supported more than 9,000 students and 500 faculty as well as capital building projects on campus.

The restructure will enable more philanthropic alignment and engagement across Texas A&M’s colleges and branch campuses, Foundation officials said. It will also help the Foundation’s 80 development officers better serve the increasing number of former students and friends of the university who desire to advance Texas A&M through personal giving.

“The goal of the restructure is to unleash the philanthropic potential of Texas A&M University,” said Tyson Voelkel ’96, Foundation president and CEO. “As the Foundation strives to be among the nation’s most trusted philanthropies in higher education, the new positions will help us inspire a culture of philanthropy at Texas A&M, improve the strategic alignment of university philanthropic priorities, and inspire a brighter future for our state, nation and world.”

The VPEs will manage development leaders across several academic units to advance academic philanthropic priorities through the Foundation’s fundraising model. They will collaborate with Foundation leadership, deans, academic leaders and donors to advance the mission and strategic vision of Texas A&M; ensure that philanthropic giving to Texas A&M is aligned with donor interests as well as the university’s needs and priorities; strengthen existing donor relationships and expand the donor base through discovery and networking; and collaborate with internal team members and university leadership to shape fundraising priorities and engage donor prospects.

Learn more about the Texas A&M Foundation at txamfoundation.com.