Greg Rutzen joins Lakeland as VP for Advancement & University Relations
Greg Rutzen, a veteran of more than 25 years of fundraising, has joined Lakeland University as vice president for advancement & university relations.
It is the latest leadership role for Rutzen, who twice rose to cabinet-level positions for institutions in the University of Houston and University of Wisconsin systems before joining Lakeland.
“I’m excited to be part of the Lakeland family and its tradition of innovation and entrepreneurial approaches to leading students to their educational goals,” Rutzen said.
“I look forward to meeting with our many alumni and supporters to hear the stories of how Lakeland has positively impacted their lives."
During Rutzen’s tenure as associate vice president and chief advancement officer at the University of Houston-Victoria, his team quadrupled annual gifts and commitments in two years, earning a CASE Educational Fundraising Award for superior development operations.
As vice chancellor for university relations at UW-Whitewater, his responsibilities included overall management of all philanthropy and alumni engagement programs, all university marketing and communications efforts, and all community outreach and partnerships. He also held an appointment as president of the University of Whitewater Foundation, Inc.
Rutzen has raised funds for community-based nonprofits as well, including the Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum, Dane County Humane Society and Bethesda Lutheran Communities. He is also an attorney and member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and United States Supreme Court Bar Association.
He graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Law and Public Policy and from Indiana University Maurer School of Law with a J.D.
He spends much of his free time photographing nature, visiting aviation museums and watching sprint car races at Plymouth Dirt Track.
