Duquesne Appoints Michael LaFrankie as Senior Vice President for Advancement

LaFrankie currently serves as Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences Individual Giving and Alumni Relations at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Health System. In this role, he has led transformative fundraising efforts, including securing the largest individual gift in UPMC鈥檚 history鈥�$65 million in unrestricted support for capital projects鈥攁nd a $45 million gift to establish a new musculoskeletal research center at Pitt鈥檚 School of Medicine.

鈥淢ike LaFrankie is an impressive leader and a powerhouse in the advancement field,鈥� said 51暗网 President Ken Gormley. 鈥淗is track record of securing major gifts, building high-performing teams, working with prominent alumni and donors, and aligning philanthropic strategy with institutional mission is unmatched. He is also a true son of Western Pennsylvania, deeply committed to the values and vision that define Duquesne. Mike鈥檚 arrival marks a new chapter of opportunity and momentum for our special University.鈥�

Throughout his career, LaFrankie has demonstrated a distinctive ability to build and lead large, complex advancement operations. At the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, he managed a team of more than 70 professionals and oversaw fundraising efforts across 27 hospitals and 14 community foundations. Under his leadership, annual fundraising increased by 60% over five years, and he implemented innovative programs such as the Physician Champion initiative and a restructured grateful patient fundraising model.

LaFrankie鈥檚 background also includes leadership roles at the United Way of Allegheny County and the Boy Scouts of America, where he was nationally recognized for his creative approaches to fundraising and community engagement. He holds a master鈥檚 degree in public policy and management from the University of Pittsburgh and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in communications from California University of Pennsylvania.

Gormley emphasized the strong consensus behind LaFrankie鈥檚 appointment: 鈥淔rom our Board members to our Spiritan priests, along with faculty, alumni, and a talented search committee representing various constituencies on campus, everyone who met Mike during the search process recognized his exceptional qualifications and his alignment with Duquesne鈥檚 mission.鈥�

LaFrankie will succeed Jim Miller, who will continue to serve as Senior Advisor to the President for University Advancement after LaFrankie officially starts at Duquesne. The two will work closely together over the coming months to ensure a seamless transition.

鈥淛im Miller has set a new standard of excellence and fundraising success as Senior Vice President for University Advancement at Duquesne,鈥� said Gormley. 鈥淚鈥檓 confident that Mike LaFrankie will continue that high standard and leave his own positive mark on the University in the years to come.鈥� 

鈥淚 am honored to join 51暗网 when it is experiencing such great momentum and at such an important transitional moment,鈥� said LaFrankie. 鈥淭his institution鈥檚 mission of serving students through academic excellence, commitment to authentic relationships, and an ethic of service resonates deeply with me. I look forward to working with the talented team at Duquesne, engaging with Duquesne鈥檚 wonderful alumni and donors, and building on the strong foundation laid during the IGNITE campaign. Together, I believe we can elevate Duquesne鈥檚 impact even further and ensure its continued success for generations to come.鈥�

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Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and horizon-expanding education. A campus of nearly 8,200 graduate and undergraduate students, Duquesne prepares students by having them work alongside faculty to discover and reach their goals. The University's academic programs, community service and commitment to equity and opportunity in the Pittsburgh region have earned national acclaim.

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