Central CU Advancement

About Central Advancement Operations

Central Advancement works closely with CU’s four campus Advancement offices and the University of Colorado Foundation to advance the university’s mission.

Our mission is both imaginative and pragmatic: We assist benefactors in discovering how their passions create lasting support for the university. We aim to boost our Advancement colleagues, too, by creating central services that tactically blend innovation, efficiency and expertise, and by developing strategies that connect donors to their dreams.

In pursuit of this vision, our services are built and conceived in collaboration with our campus partners and the University of Colorado Foundation to advance CU by:

  • engaging and inspiring constituents
  • stewarding donors and their gifts
  • increasing the sophistication and coordination of gift solicitation
  • enabling development officers to work efficiently and effectively
  • providing insight into giving trends and strategies
  • furnishing technological improvements
  • attracting the top-flight talent who ensure our success

Central Advancement Leadership

Johnnie Ray
Vice President of Advancement

Ray leads fundraising operations and service units for central CU operations.

He has been in higher education administration since 1976, and has led three comprehensive university capital campaigns.

He has worn many hats, including admissions, development, communications and marketing, alumni affairs, government relations, technology transfer, continuing education, and athletics administration. He has held positions as Director of Development at Penn State University, Vice President for Resource Development at the University of Texas at Austin, Vice President for Development and University Relations at Emory University, and served as President and CEO of the Arizona State University Foundation.

Jason Hunter
Assistant Vice President of Information Technology

Annie Konegni
Assistant Vice President of Constituent Relations & Administration

Misa Lobato
Assistant Vice President of Advancement Strategy