University Advancement VP resigns
The Vice President for University Advancement, Scott Mietchen, announced his resignation Oct. 11 after two years at USU. Mietchen said he stepped down because it is time to move on.
“It is just time to look at doing some other things,” Mietchen said.”It’s just time to move on.” Mietchen’s last day is Friday, Oct. 20.
Mietchen said he has had a tremendous time during his years at Utah State. He said he has enjoyed working with the people here, the students and alumni.
“Utah State is a tremendous institution. It has the best students and most loyal alumni I’ve ever seen,” Mietchen said. “This is a great school and it is a real asset to the state.”
Mietchen’s resignation was described as sudden by John Devilbiss, executive director of Public Relations and Marketing and university spokesman. He said Mietchen has been a strong component in the university’s growth and is leaving Utah State under positive circumstances.
“Scott is leaving the university on amicable terms with the president, the Advancement staff and others. This was a mutual decision between Scott and the president,” Devilbiss said.
Devilbiss said the Advancement program is fully focused on the advancement of the university with USU alumni. The program also works to recruit faculty and students, he said.
As vice president for University Advancement, Mietchen oversaw development and fundraising for the university, alumni relations and public relations and marketing.
Joan Scheffke, assistant director of University Advancement, said she will miss working with Mietchen and praised the accomplishments made during his time at USU.
“I think Scott is a very great guy. He really worked to make these three different entities work as a cohesive team,” Scheffke said. “He brought a new level of professionalism in how we look to constituents. He really did a lot to reinvigorate Utah State University.”
Devilbiss said, “He helped raise the bar in the way the university presents itself. He did his utmost to ensure the university put its best foot forward.”
Mietchen worked with class and great professionalism, Devilbiss said, mentioning Mietchen’s success in planning and hosting Old Main Weekend.
During Mietchen’s time as vice president, Tim Vitale, assistant director of Public Relations and Marketing, said the university received a record amount of fundraising. Utah State also received a few of the largest gifts in the school’s history, including the new performance hall, completed in January.
It was also under Mietchen’s watch that the Foundation Board of Trustees was reconstituted and now plays a key role in fundraising for USU, Vitale said.
In a press release issued by the school, President Albrecht was quoted as saying, “All of us at Utah State are tremendously appreciative of the professionalism, enthusiasm and innovation Scott brought to the job.
“During his tenure we were able to expand our donor base, engage more alumni and raise more money than ever before, bring an enhanced professionalism to our fundraising operation and implement many important new innovations to our fundraising operation,” Albrecht said. “We wish Scott and his family the best as they leave Utah State University.”
Scheffke said a transition team will be put in place after Mietchen leaves. This team will be responsible for day-to-day operations until a new vice president is chosen. She said a nationwide search will take place but is unsure of how long the process will take.
ariek@cc.usu.edu