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Thomas S. Garrow, Ph.D
President

Tom Garrow began his career in institutional advancement at the California Institute of Technology after completing his MBA at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His tenure at Caltech included diverse assignments; among them were rejuvenating a nation-wide advisory council network of corporate leaders; development of special and major gifts; a three-year challenge campaign to build annual giving gifts and participation; staff training; and expansion of the volunteer system. While there, he and his team increased the number of volunteers from 450 to 1100; tripled the receipts from the annual fund; introduced the first use of personal computers to the advancement office; reconstituted the nation-wide advisory council network; and exceeded the challenge campaign goals to the point where the challenge donor added more funds to complete the final year.

In summer of 1983, the University of Southern California inaugurated a new capital campaign. Tom moved from Caltech to accept an appointment as executive director of development for the School of Engineering and for coordinating the university's western regional major gifts program. The engineering campaign goal was $62.5 million, which meant a quintupling of its yearly gift commitments. The university's campaign goal was $650 million-at the time, the largest goal for any educational institution. The total raised for the school of engineering was over $68 million and the university also far exceeded its original target.

While at USC, Tom was promoted to both associate dean of engineering and assistant vice president. His duties expanded to include training for all advancement staff, oversight of the information systems and research function for advancement, and oversight/mentoring of three schools. He built the engineering advancement staff to address the needs and interests of 30,000 alumni; corporate and foundation supporters; and friends of the School of Engineering. He also completed his Ph.D. in organizational behavior within the School of Public Administration at USC.

In the spring of 1994, Tom accepted an invitation from Lew Collens, president of Illinois Institute of Technology, to join the university as its vice president for institutional advancement. IIT was halfway through a major institutional study of its programs and its possible future. The National Commission on the Future of IIT resulted in a restructuring of many of the university's programs; the initiation of new programs; and two trustees' co-commitment of $60 million--initiating a $120 million challenge campaign. That five-year campaign launched on January 1, 1997 and reached its $250 million goal a full twelve months ahead of schedule. Tom led that endeavor, working with President Collens; trustee leadership; academic leadership; professional staff; and, most importantly, major gift donors.

Tom has served as an invited speaker and trainer for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and has consulted for nonprofit organizations. He is married to Beth Platt Garrow and they have two children, Jennifer and Erin.