Associate Vice President, Development and Comprehensive Campaigns

California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) is pleased to announce that Brady Crook, Vice President for University Advancement, has appointed M. Danielle Young as Associate Vice President for Development and Comprehensive Campaigns, effective October 6, 2025. 

In this position, Young will lead the development team, comprised of the university’s directors of development, as well as collaborate with VP Crook to publicly launch Lead with Pride: The Comprehensive Campaign for Fresno State and achieve a successful conclusion.

Young joins Fresno State from Colorado State University, where she led a fundraising team for the Warner College of Natural Resources as managing director of development. In that role, she oversaw major gift and alumni engagement strategies, leading a high-performing team to meet and exceed multi-million-dollar goals. Young brings more than 25 years of experience in advancement, with a career spanning alumni relations, annual giving, and major gifts. Her previous leadership roles include serving at Penn State’s College of Education and as assistant vice president for alumni relations and annual giving at Oberlin College, where she contributed to the success of the $317 million Oberlin Illuminate campaign. She also held a major gifts role at the Sierra Club during its $1 billion campaign, securing multiple six-figure contributions.

Young returned to higher education in 2022 at her alma mater, Colorado State University, and now brings her deep expertise and strategic vision to Fresno State’s advancement leadership team. 

Young earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Colorado State University. 

Rachel Ellenport led this search with Christina Garrison and Rebecca Lyons.