Columns: What does this transition mean for the university and for you personally?

Wrigley: Personally, it is an opportunity for me to return to an organization that I worked with for many years. I worked at the Vinson Institute when I first came to the university.

Also, it is an opportunity to be part of government-related policy research and training, which has been a big part of my career.

For the university, this transition means that we can take what we have accomplished in external affairs to another level. We have done a lot in external affairs in the past five years, and I believe that the new leadership will take us to a new level in all aspects of what we do.
 
Columns: What excites you most about the position at the Vinson Institute?

Wrigley: The great thing about working at the Vinson Institute is that it brings together the knowledge and the expertise of the university with the day-to-day policymakers who help shape the state we live in.

It is a very unique opportunity within public service and outreach to help government officials to have the best information available to them when they make important decisions. I’ve spent a good part of my career in and around government, and I believe that good training and good information will always result in better decisions.
 
Columns: The past five years have been a time of tremendous growth for the external affairs program at UGA, and donors have responded with record support, with more than $100 million being raised in a single year last year for the first time in the university’s history. Why have we seen such growth in private support for UGA?

Wrigley: It is due mainly to the love people have for UGA, and the rise in academic quality that has occurred here in the past 15 to 20 years.

There are also organizational reasons, such as a very strong team of professionals in our development organization. The university has invested in external affairs and development.We have strong research and a strong database that allows us to identify donors and prospects, and we have the people to go out and see them.

In the end, though, fundraising success is directly related to academic success, and for that reason I say that the future is bright for fundraising at UGA.
 
Columns: You have made a very strong case for the private support of UGA in the past five years, as financial support from the state covers a decreasing portion of the UGA budget. Do you see this trend continuing, and how prepared is UGA to respond?

Wrigley: I think this trend will continue. It is important to understand the mix of private fundraising at public institutions has changed all over the country. Our private fundraising has lagged behind for many years. Now, it is being emphasized as it should be. We have always been generously supported by the state, and our state support remains high, compared to other flagship universities.

I think the state will continue to be generous with its support, but we continue to need more than that, which is why we need private support. I think UGA is positioned very well to respond to this trend. We have built a strong fundraising capability, and we have an alumni base that is devoted to the university.
 
Columns: The Archway to Excellence campaign has been a significant success thus far, and your staff has brought a part of campus to alums and supporters across the country through rollout events. What will happen with the campaign as you transition into your new position?

Wrigley: The campaign will keep going strong. We have about a year-and-a-half to go, and we have tremendous momentum behind us. Obviously, we are going to exceed our $500 million goal, probably in the next few weeks. I’m optimistic. This campaign has been going on for the past five years, and I expect us to work right up until the last day.
 
Columns: What important goals in the Archway to Excellence campaign remain?

Wrigley: The most important objective is to continue to involve new people. The primary objective at the outset of the campaign was to identify new donors who had not been giving to the university and get them involved. That remains a top priority—to continue to aggressively expand our donor base.
 
Columns: What will you miss most about directing UGA’s external affairs efforts?

Wrigley: I’ll miss the people —the external affairs team. It is a great team, and it has been a lot of fun working with them, as well as interacting regularly with our alums and donors.
I love interacting with people who love this university. It’s energizing to spend time with people like that.