Welcoming our new Vice President for Advancement
Dear Lumberjacks,
I am pleased to share that Nick Lobejko will be joining our Lumberjack community as Vice President for Advancement and CEO of the NAU Foundation, with an official start date of November 2. As we seek to elevate the excellence of all of our endeavors at NAU, securing a mission-driven leader to champion our philanthropic initiatives and alumni engagement has been a top priority—especially as we build on a record year of fundraising at NAU that has been energized by our dynamic vision articulated in NAU 2025 – Elevating Excellence.
Over the last several months, our Vice President for Advancement search committee engaged with and vetted a strong pool of candidates for this crucial role, with additional consultation provided by the NAU Foundation and Alumni Association Boards, advancement staff, and the University Advisory Board and Deans’ Council. Throughout this intensive process, Nick’s skills, priorities, and sincere appreciation for the distinctive excellence of NAU and the great community of Flagstaff were genuinely aligned with our institutional values for this crucial position and the future of NAU.
“It was evident from the moment I met him that Nick wanted to come to NAU,” said Christy Farley, Senior Vice President for Engagement and Public Affairs. “Nick has passion and energy, shares the ethos of our university, and is committed to building public and private partnerships, philanthropy, and alumni engagement to support and advance our mission of delivering equitable postsecondary value in Arizona and beyond.”
With more than a decade of experience in higher education advancement, Nick brings a record of building a strong culture of philanthropy wherever he goes, with significant achievements in increasing fundraising and alumni and partner engagement. I look forward to the positive impact Nick will have on our efforts here at NAU.
“I am thrilled to join the NAU family and want to thank President Cruz Rivera and Senior Vice President Christy Farley for this opportunity,” Lobejko said. “With the clear vision of the New NAU established, committed and mobilized supporters on the NAU Foundation and Alumni Association Boards, an exceptional advancement team, and the excellence of our students, faculty, and staff, I know this university is well-positioned to be successful and am invigorated by the opportunity to contribute to a boundless future for NAU. My wife, Jillian, and I are excited to make Flagstaff our new home and become members of the Lumberjack family.”
Nick has served as the executive director of advancement at the Colorado State University College of Business and College of Agricultural Sciences for the past eight years. He has also served as the director of development for the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado and director of development for the College of Natural and Health Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado. Nick earned his master of arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado and two bachelor of science degrees from Winona State University in Minnesota.
I would like to thank the members of our search committee for their time, energy, and thoughtful engagement over the last four months. In addition, I want to share my sincere appreciation to Christy Farley for her dedication and interim leadership of advancement since the beginning of this year and for the strong foundation she has helped secure for our future.
Please join me in welcoming Nick Lobejko and his family to Northern Arizona University!
Sincerely,
José Luis Cruz Rivera
President