Newswise — NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Rutgers University Foundation President Nevin Kessler and Brian Strom, chancellor, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, today announced Susan C. Dolbert has agreed to assume the post of vice president of development, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS). She will join the foundation on Sept. 2.

Dolbert’s responsibilities will include building a strong development program for RBHS, which consists of eight schools, including two medical schools, a school of nursing, a school of public health, a school of pharmacy, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of dental medicine and a school of health related professions. In addition to the schools, RBHS also includes the Cancer Institute of New Jersey; the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine; the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute; the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research; and University Behavioral Health Care.

“Susan brings to Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences a unique set of experiences that will help Rutgers strengthen fundraising to support its educational, research and clinical programs,” Kessler said.

Chancellor Strom said Dolbert will be “a key partner in the future of RBHS and the collaboration between RBHS and the entirety of the Rutgers community.”

Dolbert comes to Rutgers after having served as vice president of development for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. While at “The Hutch,” she oversaw all aspects of fundraising activities, including individual giving, planned giving, annual giving and corporate and foundation relations. She launched the center’s patient and family and their physician referral programs.

While at The Hutch, she spearheaded alternative strategies to respond to donors who wanted to understand where their money was going – including “Lab Crawls,” at which donors would meet with scientists working on cancer research, and the “Innovators Network,” which targeted younger professionals to attend informal gatherings.

“People have different motivations for different things. Finding what makes people more comfortable is key to explaining the organization’s priorities and purpose,” noted Dolbert.

Previously, Dolbert lived in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she served as chair of the Department of Development and chief development officer for Mayo Clinic Arizona and as a principal gifts development officer, also for Mayo Clinic Arizona. As chair, Dolbert managed all philanthropic and support functions within the Department of Development.

Dolbert served as the executive director and president of the Arizona State University Alumni Association, where she led an interdependent, volunteer-led alumni association with an alumni base of 260,000.

Dolbert has consulted with a number of higher education institutions, as well as numerous other nonprofits. She is a long-time leader in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, receiving the District VII Tribute Award in 2003. Dolbert is currently a member of the National Association of Cancer Center Development Officers (NACCDO), Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP). She also serves on the planning committee for the AHP 2014 International Meeting.

Dolbert holds a doctorate in public administration, a master’s degree in communication and a bachelor’s degree in political science and Latin American studies, all from Arizona State University.

Dolbert is married to Tom Dolbert, an executive and general manager in the automotive dealership industry.