KINGSTON, RI – August 14, 2024 – The president of the URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement (URIFAE) will retire at the end of 2024. Lil Breul O’Rourke announced her intention to step down after a momentous eight-year tenure that included overhauling the organization’s finances, recruiting new talent, completing a merger between the URI Foundation and Alumni Association, and successfully executing a record-setting comprehensive campaign from start to finish.

“Lil brought an unmatched degree of professionalism and deep experience to URI to help drive the evolution of the University’s development and alumni relations functions,” said URI President Marc Parlange. “I deeply valued her guidance as a trusted member of our senior leadership team and her pivotal role in moving the University forward.”

“Lil completely transformed URI’s ability to grow the endowment, which helps URI to grow as a university,” said Margo Cook ’86, chair of the URI Board of Trustees. “I was on the search committee as a member of the Foundation board when we hired Lil, and the result was a leader who developed a professional team that established many new long-term, meaningful relationships with our alumni and corporate partners. She is also someone I consider to be a trusted colleague and friend.”

Since 2016, URIFAE has doubled its annual fundraising targets, consistently raising more than $30 million per year. This increase was key to the success of Big Ideas. Bold Plans. The Campaign for the University of Rhode Island, which set out with an initial goal of $250 million. After a highly successful leadership phase that brought in the largest gifts in URI history, the goal was raised to $300 million, and URIFAE went on to exceed even that higher mark with a final total of more than $303.6 million. These funds have gone to support student success, cutting-edge research, athletics facilities upgrades, and other priorities across the University. URIFAE also expanded its international outreach during O’Rourke’s time as president, connecting with alumni in England, Germany, France, Indonesia, and elsewhere.

“It was clear from the start that Lil was the right person for the job,” said Thomas M. Ryan ’75, Hon. ’99, who was chair of the URI Foundation Board of Directors when O’Rourke began her role. “We conducted a thorough search and found the candidate with the experience and leadership skills to make an immediate impact. She continues to make the organization better every day during her time as president.”

“Lil’s dedication to her work is remarkable,” said Alfred J. Verrecchia ’67, M.B.A. ’72, Hon. ’04, who recently ended his term as chair of the URIFAE board. “She immersed herself in the life of the University, both locally and globally, and brought a thorough knowledge of advancement best practices, transforming URIFAE into a highly professional organization. She set an example that inspired others and produced great results.”

A departure in December allows O’Rourke to position URIFAE to continue the momentum generated by the campaign. The University continues to pursue ambitious goals in line with its long-term strategic plan, Focus URI. Renovations in the fine arts, athletics, and on the Narragansett Bay Campus, among other priorities, will depend on ongoing alumni involvement and philanthropic support. URIFAE will begin the search for O’Rourke’s successor with the benefit of steady leadership and careful transition planning.

“Lil has put us in a great position for continued success,” said Raymond M. Williams ’87, P’23, current chair of the URIFAE board. “As a long-time board member and member of several committees, I can attest to the terrific job she has done as president. We will certainly miss her in this role, but it is thanks to her that we can move forward confidently with an ambitious vision for URI.”

“Working at a university in advancement is a privilege,” said O’Rourke. “We can change lives through fundraising, which provides scholarships, research funds, and the facilities to enhance teaching, learning, and research. University advancement opens the door to opportunities that would not exist without the critical funds we raise and the goodwill and leadership that comes from an inspired alumni community. I am grateful for my time at URI and will remain a proud Rhode Islander, cheering for our state flagship university.”

Prior to coming to URIFAE, O’Rourke served as senior vice president for principal gifts and international advancement at Syracuse University. She played a significant role on the leadership team that led a successful $1 billion campaign, which ended in 2012 and exceeded its goal ahead of schedule. An alumna of Syracuse University, O’Rourke earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts and Sciences and a Master of Arts in public administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.