EMU Today

YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Eastern Michigan University (EMU) has named Bill Shepard vice president for advancement, executive director, EMU Foundation. The appointment is effective April 17, 2017, pending approval by the University’s Board of Regents.

Shepard joins Eastern after serving for more than 30 years in leadership roles at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Currently, Shepard is associate vice president for advancement and vice president of the Wright State University Foundation. Shepard has served in the role since 2011. From 2010-2011 he was assistant vice president of advancement at Wright State, and prior to that served in several leadership roles in the student affairs office at Wright State dating back to 1986, including as assistant vice president for student affairs from 2007-2010.  

In his current role, Shepard served on the leadership team for “Rise. Shine. The Campaign for Wright State University,” which has surpassed its goal and raised $163 million to date. In addition, he led the effort to complete a new strategic plan for the WSU Foundation Board of Trustees in 2016.

Eastern Michigan University President James Smith said, “I am delighted to welcome Bill as a key addition to the Eastern Michigan University leadership team. He brings a great deal of development, fundraising and alumni relations experience as we move to strengthen these important areas at Eastern. The value of Bill’s extensive experience in student affairs and the important connection between development, engagement of alumni and student success makes him an ideal fit for this position.”

Bill Shepard said, “This is a wonderful opportunity and I am looking forward to joining the Eastern Michigan University team. It was clear to me during my discussions with staff, the leadership team, President Smith and others, that strong alignment exists in the University’s and the Foundation’s priorities going forward. The bottom line is that together we will find even more ways to enrich student lives and provide opportunities. This will guide us well in the years ahead."

The Search Committee was chaired by Eastern Michigan University Vice President for Communications Walter Kraft and included: Howard Booth, Emeritus Professor of Biology; Christopher Hoppe, Senior Associate Athletic Director; Molly Luempert-Coy, Foundation Trustee; Calvin Phillips, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs; Vicki Reaume, Vice President and Secretary to the Board of Regents; Greg Sheldon, Past President, Alumni Association Board of Directors, Foundation Trustee; Marty Shichtman, Professor of English and Director of Jewish Studies; Maureen Thomas, Foundation Emeritus Trustee; James Webb, EMU Board of Regents, Foundation Trustee; and, Laura Wilbanks, CFO of the EMU Foundation.

Shepard earned a Master of Science degree in Social and Applied Economics from Wright State University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Wright State in Geological Sciences. Bill and his wife Cyndi, a high school teacher, have three adult children. His annual salary will be $253,000, and is eligible for up to a 10 percent performance bonus.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It currently serves 22,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.