{"id":299020,"date":"2026-06-07T08:16:21","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T08:16:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/299020\/"},"modified":"2026-06-07T08:16:21","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T08:16:21","slug":"fsu-vp-for-university-advancement-foundation-president-to-step-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/299020\/","title":{"rendered":"FSU VP for University Advancement, Foundation president to step down"},"content":{"rendered":"

Florida State University’s<\/a>\u00a0head\u00a0of fundraising is stepping down\u00a0from her role\u00a0after a three-and-a-half-year tenure,\u00a0which includes the milestone of advancing a\u00a0$65 million investment<\/a>\u00a0for the\u00a0Herbert Wertheim College of Business<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Marla Vickers\u00a0\u2013 the first woman to serve as\u00a0FSU’s vice\u00a0president for University Advancement and\u00a0president of the\u00a0FSU Foundation<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0will be resigning\u00a0this summer\u00a0after serving in the role since October 2022. A June 3 university release did not indicate if Vickers is leaving to accept another post. She was not immediately available for comment.<\/p>\n

Details\u00a0regarding\u00a0interim leadership to take on the dual role are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, according to the university.<\/p>\n

“Marla has provided exceptional leadership for University Advancement and the FSU Foundation during an important period for Florida State University,” FSU President Richard McCullough said in a statement. “As a Florida State graduate, she brought a deep understanding of this university and a genuine passion for its future.”<\/p>\n

\"FSU<\/p>\n

FSU President Richard McCullough.<\/p>\n

Vickers earned a bachelor’s degree\u00a0in history and political science\u00a0from the University of Georgia, a master’s degree\u00a0in\u00a0public\u00a0history and\u00a0historic\u00a0administration\u00a0from FSU\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0master’s in business\u00a0administration\u00a0from George Washington University.\u00a0The certified fundraising executive (CFRE)\u00a0also holds\u00a0a doctoral degree\u00a0in education\u00a0from Vanderbilt University.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Returning to Florida State to serve my alma mater has been one of the great privileges of my career,” Vickers said in a prepared statement. “I am deeply grateful to President McCullough, our alumni, donors, volunteers, my\u00a0team\u00a0and colleagues throughout the university for their partnership and support.<\/p>\n

“Together, we have strengthened the foundation for Florida State’s future, and I will always cherish the opportunity to be part of the university’s continued growth and success.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Marla<\/p>\n

Marla Vickers, Florida State University’s vice president for University Advancement and president of the FSU Foundation.<\/p>\n

While at FSU,\u00a0Vickers helped solidify billionaire philanthropist\u00a0Herbert Wertheim’s $65 million investment<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0the College of Business\u00a0in December 2025.<\/p>\n

It became the largest philanthropic endowment gift in the university’s history and the second-largest philanthropic gift FSU has ever received as it comes after a\u00a0record $100 million<\/a> made by Jan Moran and The Jim Moran Foundation in 2015, where part of the donation was used to create the\u00a0Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More: FSU board OKs College of Business naming after billionaire’s $65M gift<\/a><\/p>\n

Vickers also spearheaded philanthropic initiatives such as the\u00a0Anne Spencer Daves\u00a0College of Education, Health and Human Sciences<\/a>\u00a0being named after Daves\u00a0\u2013\u00a0an\u00a0alumna\u00a0of the university\u00a0\u2013 in 2024.\u00a0The designation marked it as the\u00a0only named education-related college in Florida.<\/p>\n

Although\u00a0the\u00a0donation\u00a0is\u00a0touted as being\u00a0“among the most generous and transformational gifts ever given to an education-related college nationwide,” Daves\u00a0requested\u00a0that the exact amount remain confidential, an FSU spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

It is unclear what\u00a0Vickers’\u00a0next position will be following her resignation.\u00a0While information about interim leadership will be shared in the coming weeks, the university also\u00a0plans\u00a0on\u00a0launching\u00a0a national search for its dual position of permanent vice president for University Advancement and president of the FSU Foundation.<\/p>\n

Tarah Jean is the higher education reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat, a member of the USA TODAY Network \u2013 Florida. She can be reached at\u00a0tjean@tallahassee.com<\/a>. Follow her on X:\u00a0@tarahjean_<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU vice president of University Advancement Marla Vickers to resign<\/a><\/p>\n