President’s speeches, letters, and articles
Subject: Welcoming Reed’s New VP for Advancement and College Relations
June 11, 2024
Dear Reed Community,
I am pleased to announce that Hieu T. Nguyen will join Reed College as our new Vice President for Advancement and College Relations. Hieu has 22 years of experience leading advancement efforts at small liberal arts colleges (Bates, Bowdoin, Harvey Mudd, Middlebury) and at the University of California, Riverside. He has extensive fundraising leadership experience and knows how to build relationships with colleagues, alumni, and donors.
Hieu has achieved success in many areas of fundraising and engagement over the span of his professional career in higher education. He has a proven track record as a strategic leader and is adept at building innovative, productive, and high-functioning teams for the organizations that he has served.
Nguyen’s campaign experience includes strategic planning and funding for targeted initiatives such as capital and academic projects (from $5 million to $50 million), as well as the launching of comprehensive campus-wide endeavors (at the $300 million to $500 million levels).
Prior to joining academia in 2002, Nguyen worked in industry for startup ventures with Qualcomm, Inc. in San Diego, California, and Burlee.com in Burlington, Vermont.
Hieu and his wife of 25 years, Shannon, have two college-age children, Sydney and Holden, and currently reside in Solana Beach, California, with their beloved 13-year-old pitbull-labrador mix, Star.
I am deeply grateful to search committee co-chairs Kathy Oleson and Lynn Valenter and to all of the search committee members for dedicating their time and effort to this search.
Hieu will begin his tenure on July 1. Please join me in congratulating and welcoming him to campus.
All best,
Audrey
Audrey Bilger
President
Reed College