New Director of Development appointed

Liesl Elder, Director of Development at the University of Edinburgh, is to become Oxford's new Director of Development. Ms Elder has worked in educational fundraising since 1993, beginning her career at the US liberal arts colleges Carleton College and Oberlin College before serving as Campaign Director for Santa Clara University in California. She moved to the UK in 2004 to take up the post of Director of Development and Communications at Durham University; in this role she oversaw philanthropic fundraising, alumni relations, marketing, public relations and corporate events, and managed Durham's 175th Anniversary Campaign. In 2008 Ms Elder joined the University of Edinburgh as Director of Development where she managed Edinburgh's fundraising and alumni relations team during Edinburgh's £350 million Enlightenment Campaign. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Development and External Affairs, Professor Nick Rawlins, said: 'I'm delighted that Liesl is joining the University's development team at this stage of the Oxford Thinking Campaign. Her varied experience in North America and the UK puts her in an excellent position to take forward the next stage of the campaign.' Ms Elder will take up the post in September 2011. She succeeds Sue Cunningham who has held the post of Director of Development at Oxford since 2006.