You reached this page through the archive. Click here to return to the archive.

Note: This article is over a year old and information contained in it may no longer be accurate. Please use the contact information in the lower-left corner to verify any information in this article.

Ron Bagnall named interim vice president for advancement

By Carole Leigh Engblom
June 30, 2006

Vice President of Advancement John Kilbride '87 announced his resignation from St. Olaf on June 5 to become director of major gifts and planned giving at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, close to Kilbride's home.

President Christopher Thomforde has named Ron Bagnall to be interim vice president for advancement. Bagnall has been serving as assistant vice president of the advancement division.

"Ron has the complete confidence of me, of President-elect David Anderson, and of the Advancement staff," says Thomforde, who will leave St. Olaf at the end of June to assume the presidency of Moravian College in Pennsylvania.

Ron Bagnall has 25 years of experience in fund raising, planned giving, strategic planning and capital campaign management. Prior to coming to St. Olaf, Bagnall was vice president of college advancement at Central College in Pella, Iowa, where he led a $50 million capital campaign and increased annual giving by 31 percent over a two-year period.

He joined St. Olaf in May 2005 as a principal gifts officer and in September 2005 was named assistant vice president for advancement.

His responsibilities have included providing visionary leadership for the directors of five departments: Advancement Services, Alumni and Parent Relations, Partners in Annual Giving, Principal Gifts, and Stewardship, as well as raising financial support for the new Science Complex and Kresge Challenge Grant.

"I'm blessed to work with an outstanding group of professionals who share a passion for St. Olaf's mission," says Bagnall. "We enjoy our work and each other. We're looking forward to serving President-elect David Anderson and helping people experience the joy of giving and serving others. This is a special place, and I'm excited to be a part of it."

Bagnall earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Northern Iowa and his M.S. at the College for Financial Planning in Denver. He also led successful planned giving programs at Iowa State University, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews in Chicago and Judson College in Elgin, Illinois.

Bagnall and his wife, Phyllis, live in Lakeville. They have four children: Megan and Luke are both graduates of Calvin College, and Bjorn and Olivia attend Lakeville South High School.

Like many in the larger St. Olaf community, Bagnall says he joins President Thomforde in his praise of John Kilbride as a leader and as a person.

"John represents so much that is good about St. Olaf College," Thomforde said in an announcement to the campus. "I am most grateful to John for his partnership in the work of the college. St. Olaf is stronger and more vital as a result of John's work."

Contact Carole Engblom at 507-646-3271 or leigh@stolaf.edu.