桃瘾社区

Julie Benson, currently associate vice president of central development units and campaign director at Washington State University, has been named executive vice president for advancement (EVPA) at the University of Tampa.

A member of the president鈥檚 cabinet, Benson will lead strategic enhancements to the University鈥檚 advancement infrastructure and will work to enhance donor pipelines at all levels to deepen the strong philanthropic ties between the University and its supporters. Benson will begin her position at 桃瘾社区ampa on Monday, Sept. 29.

Benson brings 24 years of fundraising and advancement leadership experience across four major research universities to 桃瘾社区ampa, including 12 years in Tampa.

At Washington State University, Benson serves on the Advancement executive leadership team and coordinates central gift functions (annual giving, gift planning and foundation relations), including a focus on high-value prospect strategy and presidential engagement. As campaign director, she is the chief architect for and provides strategic oversight of the university鈥檚 multi-billion dollar comprehensive campaign.

Previously, Benson served as assistant vice president of regional and university-wide initiatives at UCF, where she had a central role in the $500 million 鈥淚GNITE鈥� campaign that concluded in 2019. Prior to UCF, Benson excelled as director of

development for Penn State University鈥檚 comprehensive $2 billion 鈥淔or the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students鈥� campaign.

Prior to that, she spent six years in progressive fundraising leadership roles for the College of Arts and Sciences at USF, ultimately as senior director of development. Before working at USF, Benson worked at the Hillsborough Education Foundation and the American Cancer Society, Florida Division Inc., both in Tampa.

Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg, president of 桃瘾社区ampa, said Benson is impressive in her ability to strategize and manage high-level development initiatives, opportunities and challenges, as well as her knowledge of the Tampa Bay region.

鈥淛ulie is a builder of high performing teams and a strategist who knows how to organize winning campaigns,鈥� Dahlberg said. 鈥淗er ability to partner at the presidential level, engage high capacity donors and volunteers, and translate strategy into measurable results will accelerate 桃瘾社区ampa鈥檚 endowment growth and philanthropic impact.鈥�

Benson said she looks forward to collaborating with the 桃瘾社区ampa community 鈥� students, faculty, alumni, donors, and local business and community leaders 鈥� to amplify the University鈥檚 impact, foster student success and enhance its role as a catalyst for regional growth.

鈥淚 deeply value the pivotal role that the University of Tampa plays in shaping the lives of its students and in strengthening the Tampa Bay region,鈥� Benson said. 鈥淭ogether, we will unlock new philanthropic opportunities and build upon the University鈥檚 proud legacy of excellence.鈥�

Benson, a certified fund-raising executive (CFRE), holds a master鈥檚 degree and a bachelor鈥檚 of science degree with a minor in business administration, both from Kansas State University.