“David has significant experience in leading successful fundraising efforts and working with major donors.  His extensive experience will be invaluable as Temple seeks support for our strategic initiatives,” said President Ann Weaver Hart.

As the senior vice president, Unruh’s portfolio includes fundraising, alumni relations and alumni communications.

Unruh, who worked in development at both the University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon University before going to Chicago, said he was excited about the opportunities at Temple.

“The Access to Excellence campaign’s success shows that the Temple community will come together and support initiatives that have a direct impact on the lives of its students,” said Unruh. “I look forward to building on that effort as the university fulfills its promise for the future.”

Unruh noted that with state support for schools like Temple continuing to decline, the support of alumni and friends will play an increasingly vital role in the university’s success.

“The university has exciting plans for the future, particularly in the Temple 20/20 plan,” he said. “More than ever, the support of alumni and friends will be a vital component of realizing Temple’s future.”

Unruh has been at the University of Chicago since July 2007, where he was responsible for the day-to-day central alumni relations and development activity, with a particular focus on fundraising efforts of $1 million and more.

A 1991 graduate of Colby College with a major in history, he has a master’s degree in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University. He began his career in admissions at Colby, then moved to Carnegie Mellon, where he briefly worked in admissions before moving to development and becoming director of major gifts in 2003.

Unruh was named director of the major gifts program at the University of Pennsylvania in 2004, and remained there until becoming associate vice president at Chicago in 2007.

—Ray Betzner