The College of Pharmacy development team is in a semester of transition. In the months ahead, Dan Bolsen will step away from his current responsibilities, including his role as Chief Development Officer for the college, to take on a newly created role within the Purdue for Life Foundation (PFLF). Additionally, Carrie Bright recently joined the Pharmacy team as a director of development, filling a vacancy left by Erica Stickler’s previous promotion.
Bolsen’s enhanced role
Effective earlier this month, Bolsen was appointed Executive Director of Development for Health, Life, and Computational Sciences (HLCS). In this role, he will have oversight of fundraising efforts for the colleges of Health and Human Sciences, Pharmacy and Science, as well as the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research and the Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery.
HLCS will act as an “umbrella” over these units. Built within the areas of campus supported by John Dinkens, Senior Associate Vice President for Development, Bolsen will collaborate with the fundraising and academic leaders in each unit to maximize fundraising outcomes. This new approach is not an academic or curriculum change, but a PFLF enhancement to further embrace centralization and build bridges between our fundraising efforts.
“The many like-minded synergies across these units will allow us to engage some of our alumni and donors in new and exciting ways,” Bolsen said. “With that said, Pharmacy has been my home since I joined the Purdue family in the spring semester of 2016, and I am very grateful to still be connected to the college in this new role. My sincere appreciation to John Dinkens and Eric Barker for what each of them has done to be such tremendous partners in all our past and recent happenings.”
Barker is the Jeannie and Jim Chaney Dean of the College of Pharmacy.
Bolsen has facilitated $136 million in philanthropic impact across Purdue over the past eight years. Additionally, he has hired 13 fundraisers into PFLF roles across campus, created a new centralized fundraiser training program, and helped raise money for a variety of campus projects, including Chaney-Hale Hall of Science, the Atlas Family Marketplace, and the Klipsch Student Success Crossroads. Pharmacy’s net production over the past six fiscal years has totaled more dollars raised for the unit than the previous 132 fiscal years combined. Each of Bolsen’s four years in the lead fundraiser role for Pharmacy rank within the top five fundraising years in the college’s history. The donor impact has helped make Purdue the most affordable pharmacy program in the Big Ten.
Bright joins Pharmacy
Carrie Bright recently joined the Pharmacy team as a Director of Development. She will work alongside Bolsen and Senior Director of Development Travis Smith.
Bright joined PFLF in August following a nearly 25-year career in pharmaceutical sales. Since joining PFLF, she has been part of the foundation’s centralized fundraiser training program. In her previous career roles, Bright spent time with Novo Nordisk, Biogen, and Amgen. She has held management roles and represented a variety of drugs related to diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the Pharmacy team and look forward to taking my knowledge around pharmaceutical manufacturing and industry to engage in thoughtful donor discussions with our alumni and friends who are passionate about Purdue University and the future of pharmacy,” Bright said. “Over the past semester, I have been introduced to the Pharmacy culture, which feels like a family. I am fortunate to be able to work alongside a special and caring group of people from PFLF and the college.”
A new Pharmacy development team leader will be announced later this semester.
“The College of Pharmacy has benefited immeasurably from Dan Bolsen’s fundraising leadership over the last eight years,” Barker said. “His tireless dedication to the college has helped create unprecedented opportunities for our students, alumni, faculty and staff. We’re excited to continue collaborating with him in his new role.
“We’re also incredibly excited to welcome Carrie Bright to the Pharmacy fundraising team. Carrie brings a wealth of pharmaceutical knowledge and experience that will allow her to make an immediate impact on the college.”