Vice President, University Relations

Santa Clara University (Santa Clara) is pleased to announce the appointment of Amy Yancey as the next vice president for university relations, effective September 1, 2026. Yancey, a highly accomplished and strategic advancement executive, will lead Santa Clara’s development, alumni relations, and event planning operations and serve as a member of the President’s Executive Council and Cabinet.

Yancey brings more than two decades of proven advancement leadership to Silicon Valley, including a stellar track record of driving record-breaking philanthropic success and leading high-performing teams across major higher education institutions. She joins Santa Clara from her role as president and CEO of the University of Connecticut (UConn) Foundation, where she oversaw fundraising, alumni engagement, and endowment management for UConn and UConn Health, including launching the $1.5 billion Because of UConn Campaign and driving a 50 percent increase in fundraising and the strongest fundraising year in institutional history.

Prior to her leadership at the UConn Foundation, Yancey served as vice president for development at Boston College (BC), overseeing institutional fundraising with a specialized focus on academic programs, financial aid, and athletics, and leading the fundraising team to consecutive record-breaking years, culminating in more than $1 billion in fundraising. During her tenure, she also served as acting senior vice president for advancement, helping plan and execute the launch of BC’s $3 billion Soaring Higher campaign.

Yancey’s extensive career also includes seven years as associate vice president for development at the University of Virginia (UVA), where she served on the senior leadership planning team for UVA’s $5 billion campaign and led programs with more than $1 billion in goals.

Yancey holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in plant sciences and agricultural economics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Click here to read the full press release.

Rachel Ellenport led this search with Nicole Poe and Megan Gorman.