Jerre K. Iversen has been named the new vice president for university advancement at The University of Texas at Tyler, President Rodney H. Mabry announced. 
           
Effective Jan. 16, 2007 Iversen succeeds Deanna Sims, who was serving as interim executive director.
           
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome Jerre to UT Tyler. His leadership record in development will enable us not only to continue the fine work already being done by our university advancement staff but also to move to the next level necessary to support our educational and research needs,” said President Mabry.  “We are grateful to Deanna for stepping in as the interim director and that she will remain on the development team after Jerre arrives.”
           
Iversen’s duties include developing significant relationships with community, foundation and corporate leaders in Tyler, East Texas and nationally; responding to UT System initiatives; and evaluating the possibility of implementing an excellence campaign centered on endowments for programs, scholarships and chairs.
           
“The University of Texas at Tyler has an outstanding reputation among the other institutions in The University of Texas System. I am honored and delighted to join Dr. Mabry and his leadership team to further build the philanthropic support he will need to go forward.” Iversen said.

With more than 20 years experience in development, Iversen comes to UT Tyler after having served five years as vice president of development at UT Health Science Center at Houston, which includes a medical school, research institute, psychiatric hospital and five other schools.
Under his leadership, UTHSC Houston surpassed its fund raising goals and set new records during each of the past two years and three out of the past four. In January 2006 a $200-million, five-year campaign, the largest in the university’s history, was successfully completed.
Iversen also led the Yale University School of Medicine to surpass its fund raising goals while setting new records of $140 million in new gifts and new pledges.

He has held administrative positions at Georgetown University Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles Foundation and Queen of the Valley Hospital Foundation in California.

Memberships include Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, Southern California Association of Healthcare Philanthropy, Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, Association of Fundraising Professionals and Unnamed Society, which is comprised of chief development officers representing 25 of the nation’s leading academic medical centers.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of nearly 6,000 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.