The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) in Washington, D.C., has announced the appointment of Carol M. Schuler as vice president for State Fund programs. Schuler is presently vice president for development at Davis & Elkins College.
In making the announcement, CIC President Richard Ekman said, “Carol brings highly relevant professional experience that corresponds to many of the key areas of responsibility that are of priority interest to State Fund members, their executive officers and staff, and their member college presidents. As a seasoned professional with strong leadership qualities and an outstanding record of success, she will be a significant resource and valuable source of support for the State Funds.”
As vice president for development at Davis & Elkins, Schuler has overseen fundraising for annual, capital and endowment needs; the alumni, parent and church relations programs; and the communications and marketing office. She has worked closely with President G.T. ‘Buck’ Smith to launch the College’s Secure the Future Campaign and the $25 million McDonnell Challenge. This year, D&E has set new records for fundraising, both in terms of dollars raised and donors participating.
A member of the D&E community since 2001, Schuler previously served as the College’s associate vice president for communications and development, the associate vice president for communications and marketing, and as director of communications. Her achievements in communications and marketing include awards for website design and helping guide three large stories in the Chronicle of Higher Education about Davis & Elkins. Schuler also has been the College’s principal liaison to congressional and state government offices, and organized major special events.
In response to the announcement, Davis & Elkins President G. T. ‘Buck’ Smith commented, “Carol has played a key role in the advancement of D&E over the past 15 years, especially in helping achieve national recognition for the College. It is not surprising that others would take note of her unusual talent. We are most grateful for her faithful service, and while we regret losing her, we are glad for her to have this opportunity to serve the wider higher education community.”
Schuler has served as an at-large director of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, District II, and as a member of the CIC Task Force that planned the 2015 Institute for Chief Academic and Chief Advancement Officers in Baltimore.
Locally, she is president of the city of Elkins Planning Commission, a member of Elkins Rotary, and a past president of the Elkins Historic Landmarks Commission. She also helped develop the Wees Historic District. Earlier she helped create and manage the Randolph County Schools ArtsBank program and was a founding board member of the Randolph County Community Arts Center.
Schuler earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism/mass communications at Purdue University, a master’s degree in advertising at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and earlier studied music at DePauw University. She is married to Dr. Thomas M. Schuler, research leader of the U.S. Forest Service Fernow Experimental Forest, and they are the parents of Katt and Houston Schuler. She will conclude her service at D&E in April.
As part of its mission, CIC provides support and member services for 31 State Fund members, state-based consortia dedicated to advancing and strengthening independent colleges and universities through collaborative programs, seeking grants and scholarship support, and promoting to the public the value of independent higher education. Member services include conferences and other professional and organizational development opportunities. In addition, State Fund members are eligible for annual scholarship and grant support from CIC from the $38 million endowment dedicated by the initial donor — the UPS Foundation — to the advancement of the mission and programs of the State Fund members and their member colleges.
The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of 765 nonprofit independent colleges and universities and higher education affiliates and organizations that has worked since 1956 to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of private higher education’s contributions to society. CIC is the major national organization that focuses on providing services to leaders of independent colleges and universities as well as conferences, seminars and other programs that help institutions to improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, and institutional visibility. CIC conducts the largest annual conferences of college and university presidents and of chief academic officers. The Council is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C.
