VCU news

By Carissa Etters

The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virginia Foundation announced Margaret Ann Bollmeier as its new president, effective today.

Bollmeier will provide strategic leadership and continue to strengthen the foundation’s philanthropic efforts and relationships in the community, as well as at VCU and VCU Health.    

The MCV Foundation was established in 1949 to provide support for VCU’s five health science schools. The foundation also serves its affiliated specialty centers and VCU Health. The foundation is responsible for the management and stewardship of more than $480 million designated by donors for the support of the health sciences and the VCU Health system.

Bollmeier, a seasoned advancement professional with more than 25 years of experience, comes to the MCV Foundation from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, where she served as associate dean of alumni affairs and development.

"I am so pleased that Margaret Ann will be joining the team at the foundation and helping to increase philanthropic support across the VCU Health MCV Campus," said Gail W. Johnson, chair of the MCV Foundation board of trustees. “She will guide us through a strategic planning process to chart a course that will ensure we realize our aspirations.”

This is a wonderful opportunity to lead an outstanding organization with such an important mission.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to lead an outstanding organization with such an important mission," Bollmeier said. "I am looking forward to working with our foundation board, VCU Health MCV Campus deans and directors, and university leadership to raise the level of support for the health sciences and VCU Health."

In her previous roles, Bollmeier served as executive director of the Curry School of Education Foundation at the University of Virginia. Prior to that, she served as assistant dean for advancement in the College of Education at the University of Washington.

Before moving to higher education, Bollmeier was president and CEO of Humanities Washington, a public foundation and the Washington state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, for 10 years. She also served as director of development for the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Bollmeier received her B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and her J.D. from Washington & Lee University School of Law. Although she began her career as an attorney, Bollmeier transitioned to a career in philanthropy at Providence Medical Center Foundation in Seattle, where she served as the director of gift planning and major gifts, and led the capital campaign for its comprehensive breast center.