Lavinia Boxill will serve as interim president of the Rutgers University Foundation while the school searches for a new president, Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway announced Friday, following approval by the RUF Board.
Boxill replaces Nevin Kessler, who is stepping down from the position after seven years as the RUF president.
Boxill, who is on the search committee for the new president, also will serve as executive vice president for development and alumni engagement. She has been the vice chancellor for advancement for Rutgers-New Brunswick since 2018, overseeing fundraising and alumni engagement for the university’s largest campus. She has worked in numerous development jobs at the school since she came to Rutgers in 1996.
“It is a privilege to assume the role of interim president and executive vice president for development and alumni engagement,” Boxill said. “I look forward to continuing to advance the work of the foundation and the critical role of private philanthropy to support the university’s mission of changing lives and bettering society through excellence in education, research and service.”
Holloway thanked Kessler for his effort.
“I know I speak for so many members of the university community in acknowledging Nevin’s contribution to the Rutgers University Foundation and the many accomplishments that were achieved under his leadership,” he said. “I am grateful for his years of service and wish him the best as he starts his next chapter.”
During Kessler’s tenure, the foundation successfully completed its first billion-dollar fundraising campaign, and the university’s endowment nearly doubled — from $784 million to $1.5 billion — while participation by donors large and small grew significantly.
Holloway also thanked Boxill for stepping in to serve in the interim role.
“I look forward to working closely with Lavinia to ensure the business of the foundation continues well through this transition period,” he said.
