Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences announces that Michael J. Pasquarella has joined the College as vice president for Institutional Advancement. He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in philanthropy —including 11 years exclusively with healthcare organizations.
In this role, serving as a key member of the President’s Cabinet, Pasquarella will lead the Office of Institutional Advancement providing strategic direction for all aspects of the College’s fundraising and alumni engagement efforts, which includes a global alumni base 9,000 strong.
Prior to joining ACPHS, he served as vice president of Institutional Advancement at Converse University in Spartanburg, South Carolina; associate vice president, Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement at Kent State University; assistant vice chancellor in the Office of Advancement at the University of Colorado’s School of Medicine; and vice president of Philanthropy at The Denver Hospice.
“Michael’s broad experience in advancement, philanthropy, corporate and foundation relations, and alumni/donor engagement will be an incredible asset to ACPHS as we work to deepen our engagement with alumni, corporate partners and our extended community,” said ACPHS President Toyin Tofade MS, PharmD, BCPS, CPCC, FFIP. “His stewardship, fundraising experience and ability to work collaboratively across an institution will serve him well in this role.”
Pasquarella has worked with college administrators and campus colleagues to build visibility, relationships, and resources for each institution he has served. His career highlights include leading a $12 million fundraising campaign for The Denver Hospice to build an inpatient center, now considered an essential community resource. At Kent State University, he built a team that elevated principal gift activity which contributed to a $78 million fundraising goal, exceeding year over year totals by $48 million. At the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Pasquarella contributed to a three-year rolling average fundraising increase, from $40.6 million to $121.6 million, while achieving a record-breaking fiscal year fundraising total of $150 million.
Pasquarella holds a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Canisius University.
Pasquarella says he looks forward to partnering with the Institutional Advancement team to involve and engage the extended college community in facilitating meaningful gifts that will positively change the lives of others.
“I am excited to join the Office of Institutional Advancement and work with President Tofade and the entire ACPHS community to support the College’s mission of educating the next generation of leaders to improve the health of society,” said Pasquarella. “Witnessing the impact of skilled and compassionate healthcare providers on my immediate and extended family is an ever-present motivator. Likewise, my 11 years of involvement with world-class healthcare organizations is a reminder of what is possible with new discoveries, top talent and innovation. Philanthropy is an accelerator that makes dreams possible.”
About Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Founded in 1881, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) is a private, independent college dedicated to educating the next generation of leaders to improve the health of society. ACPHS offers 17 undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs including online Master of Biomedical Sciences and Master of Biotechnology programs. Students have myriad opportunities to extend what they are learning in the classroom at The Stack Family Center for Biopharmaceutical Education and Training (CBET), at student-supported pharmacies in underserved communities, and at The Collaboratory, a public health resource designed to alleviate community health disparities in Albany’s South End neighborhood. ACPHS ranks #1 in New York State for best return on investment by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce and was graded an A+ for value by Niche.