Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the Foundation

Elizabeth H. Mitchell was appointed as Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of the Foundation at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, effective July 13, 2026.

Mitchell brings more than three decades of advancement leadership experience in higher education, most recently serving as Assistant Dean of Advancement in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech. Throughout her career, she has held senior advancement roles at Virginia Tech, George Washington University, the University of Maryland, Wheaton College, and Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

A highly accomplished fundraising and relationship-building leader, Mitchell has led major campaign initiatives, secured transformational philanthropic support, and partnered closely with presidents, deans, governing boards, alumni, and donors to advance institutional priorities.

As Vice President of Advancement, Mitchell will lead the College’s fundraising, alumni engagement, and advancement operations efforts, helping strengthen philanthropic support and deepen connections with alumni and friends of the College. And inclusive with advancement, she will serve as Executive Director of the St. Mary’s College Foundation, working in close collaboration with the Foundation Board to serve the Foundation’s mission to initiate, cultivate and maintain strong lifelong relationships with alumni, friends and partners by creating a culture of giving, volunteer leadership and exemplary fiduciary responsibility toward the goal of a bright future as a preferred public liberal arts honors institution.

Mitchell earned her undergraduate degree in liberal arts from Smith College and a master’s from Harvard Divinity School, focusing on nonprofit management, philanthropy, and ethics.

Jack Gorman led this search with Grace Zakim and Lisa Clayton.