Serjoie Takes His Next Step
Senior vice president heading to California State University
Ara Serjoie, seen here with Professor April Duvic, will say goodbye in early August.
Ara Serjoie, senior vice president at Clark College Foundation, announced he has accepted a position at California State University.
Serjoie, who has played a pivotal role building relationships and raising funds, will step down in August to take a position at California State University, East Bay, in Hayward, Calif., where he will serve as the vice president for university advancement and president of the foundation.
Lisa Gibert, president and CEO of Clark College Foundation, said Serjoie’s exceptional service to the foundation during his seven-year tenure has strengthened the relationships between Clark College and community members, heightened the awareness of Clark College in Southwest Washington and bolstered the adherence to professional ethics and responsibility in philanthropy.
“Ara’s innovation and integrity for building a philanthropic educational entity has my deepest admiration. He, in collaboration with foundation staff, has helped propel Clark College to the highest level of respect in the community as the first choice for giving and a leader in regional workforce, career training and transfer degrees,” said Gibert, adding that the foundation will build upon Serjoie’s groundwork by hiring an interim campaign leader in the coming weeks while exploring a permanent replacement.
Serjoie said he is thankful to the Clark College community, as well as the Vancouver region for their ongoing support. “I have been honored to serve Clark alongside our outstanding faculty and a talented team of professionals at the foundation in sharing the important message about the unparalleled economic role that the college serves in Southwest Washington,” said Serjoie.
“The community’s response has been remarkable and our fundraising efforts have yielded tremendous philanthropic leadership, while also garnering national recognition among peer institutions as evidenced by awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. It is my sincere hope that the community will continue their support—to ensure a bright future for Southwest Washington by helping to raise the remaining funds to successfully complete this campaign, while also remaining steadfast to their college in the years to follow,” he said.
Clark College Foundation has been highly successful in its fundraising efforts during Serjoie’s tenure. Private support has surged, community involvement with the college has blossomed and Clark has consistently aligned with local industry for educational training and workforce development. Furthermore, the foundation has received several national accolades for fundraising and communications.
In May, Clark College announced it had raised nearly $17 million toward a $20 million goal for Ensuring a Bright Future: Campaign for Clark College. As of mid-June, another $498,000 had been raised.
Jan Oliva, chair of Ensuring a Bright Future: Campaign for Clark College, said the support from the community in time, talent and treasure has been extraordinary since the quiet phase of the campaign began in 2009. “We are honored to have so many individuals committed to the successful future of Clark College and its pivotal role in boosting the region’s economic well-being and high quality of life,” she said.
“Under Ara’s leadership, philanthropy reached a new level of giving at Clark College. His passion, commitment and hard work inspired all of us to strive for higher goals. The students, faculty and community at large are indebted to him,” Oliva said.
Funds raised during the Ensuring a Bright Future: Campaign for Clark College, which is set to conclude June 2014, are aimed at enhancing scholarships, health science programs, e-learning, excellence fund for teaching and learning, and facilities such as the Oliva Early Learning Center, Firstenburg Family Dental Hygiene Education and Care Center and the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) building.
