Kent State University President Todd Diacon today announced the appointment of Valoree Vargo to the position of vice president for philanthropy and alumni engagement, effective Aug. 1, 2021. Vargo has served the university since 2010 as the associate chief of staff in the president’s office, the senior associate vice president for the Division of Institutional Advancement (now the Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement) and as the interim vice president for philanthropy and alumni engagement since June 2020.
“Valoree has shown time and time again that she is committed to our students, their families and the entire Kent State community, and in this key role, she will lead our efforts to generate much-needed philanthropy to provide critical support for student success,” Diacon said.
As vice president, Vargo leads the university’s philanthropy, alumni and volunteer engagement programs and serves as the executive director of the Kent State University Foundation. The division plays a critical role in building relationships with alumni and friends to support the vision and mission of the university.
“I am honored to serve the university, our students, alumni and donors,” Vargo said. “During these uncertain times when our students face more challenges to access and completion, philanthropic support is more vital than ever. Our generous alumni, friends and donors always come through with their time, talents and treasure. That is because at Kent State, what sets us apart is how we come together.”
Before coming to Kent State, Vargo was head of communications at the International Post Corporation in Brussels, Belgium. Prior to that, she led the advancement communications and events team at George Washington University, and she served in various leadership roles during her 18-year career at the U.S. Postal Service headquarters in Washington, D.C., including as the director of operations for the Postal Service’s worldwide Olympic sponsorship in 1992.
Vargo is a graduate of Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, Pennsylvania. She resides in Hudson, Ohio.
For more information about Kent State’s Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, visit www.kent.edu/philanthropy.
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Photo Caption:
Valoree Vargo has been named Kent State University’s new vice president for philanthropy and alumni engagement.
Media Contacts:
Eric Mansfield, emansfie@kent.edu, 330-672-2797
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595