SAN FRANCISCO, September 16, 2005 -- San Francisco State University has appointed Donna Blakemore, a fundraising professional with more than 25 years of nonprofit and higher education experience, to head its development and alumni relations efforts.

Blakemore, who joined SFSU on Sept.12 as associate vice president for University advancement, has served three University of California campuses in leadership positions in fundraising and alumni relations. Since relocating to San Francisco, she has worked as vice president of advancement at the California Institute of Integral Studies and development director at SFJAZZ and the San Francisco Ballet.

Blakemore will lead all fundraising efforts for SFSU, including planned giving, major gifts, annual fund, alumni relations, corporate and foundation relations and capital campaigns. She will report to Lee Blitch, vice president for University advancement.

"I am very pleased to welcome Donna Blakemore to our team," Blitch said. "With her proven track record in both the nonprofit sector and in higher education, she will add another dimension of expertise that can help bring San Francisco State to new levels in fundraising and community support."

Blakemore served as executive director of both development and alumni relations at University of California, Davis, where she managed a university-wide fundraising campaign that secured nearly $19 million in scholarships, fellowships and other student support.

As assistant director for University of California, Santa Cruz's alumni association, Blakemore directed membership and revenue generating marketing programs and developed an international travel program for alumni. She later served as executive director of the alumni association at University of California, Riverside, where she developed a new organization for parents of university students. She has served on the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VII Board of Directors and was appointed to an international commission on alumni relations by CASE International.

At SFSU, Blakemore's goals include expanding the overall fundraising program and increasing annual support.

"We need to engage our various constituents in the life of the campus -- to discover what they care about deeply and match their talents and resources with the needs of the University," Blakemore said. "Our alumni population is growing exponentially, and it is essential that we find new ways to engage them in supporting the campus in ways in which they can contribute even more."

A fourth-generation Santa Cruzan, Blakemore earned a bachelor of arts in aesthetic studies from University of California, Santa Cruz.

Located in one of the world's most diverse, creative and international regions, San Francisco State University is a leading public urban university. The highly diverse community of nearly 30,000 students leads the 23-campus California State University system in graduate student enrollment and is a major civic force that partners with government, business and educational leaders in the region and throughout the globe.