Michael C. Eicher to retire as Ohio State’s senior vice president for external affairs

Michael C. Eicher to retire as Ohio State's senior vice president for external affairs

Eicher led the most successful fundraising campaign in university history

Michael C. Eicher, The Ohio State University's senior vice president for external affairs and president of The Ohio State University Foundation, is retiring from the university in January.

University President Ravi V. Bellamkonda announced the news today in a message to members of the campus community.

"Through his leadership, Mike has contributed to all that we hold dear at The Ohio State University. His entire career has been devoted to higher education. He is a committed servant to Ohio State, and his leadership has helped fuel the impactful work of the university," Bellamkonda said. "I know the Buckeye community will join me in thanking Mike for all that he has done to support our relentless pursuit of academic excellence in service to Ohioans and beyond."

Eicher joined the university in 2012. During his tenure at Ohio State, he has led the university's efforts to garner support for students, faculty and staff - including the recent Time and Change: The Ohio State Campaign, the most successful fundraising campaign in university history, which raised $5.4 billion from more than 817,000 donors. Earlier in his tenure, he led and concluded the But For Ohio State campaign, which raised more than $3 billion from 750,000 donors. Over the past decade, Ohio State has significantly grown its annual fundraising capacity, supporting increasingly ambitious campaign goals and record-setting results.

He also founded the Advancement Leadership Lab, which began at Ohio State and has since evolved into an international network of more than 20 universities focused on strengthening leadership across the advancement profession.

"What distinguishes Mike's leadership is not only what he has achieved, but what he built," said Gifford Weary, chair of The Ohio State University Foundation Board of Directors. "He understood that lasting success in Advancement comes from investing in people, aligning teams around a shared standard of excellence, and creating an environment where meaningful relationships can take root and grow over time. The strength of Ohio State's Advancement enterprise today reflects that intentional work. It is a foundation that will continue to elevate this university and inspire philanthropy for years to come."

As senior vice president for external affairs, Eicher currently oversees the offices of Advancement, Government Affairs and Marketing, as well as the university's Alumni Association.

"It has been a pleasure and great honor to serve a university that means so much to so many. Ohio State offers a world-class education, delivers leading-edge research and makes a substantial impact on the world," Eicher said.

"Ohio State's strength has always been its people and a shared belief in what we can accomplish together," he said. "The campaigns we have completed are a reflection of that shared commitment, but more importantly, they represent the collective generosity and trust of hundreds of thousands of donors who believe in what Ohio State makes possible. I leave with deep confidence in the team, the culture we have built, and Ohio State's continued ability to inspire philanthropy in service of its mission."

Eicher's efforts in higher education were honored last year with the E. Burr Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, for his novel campaigns and mentoring of future leaders.

Prior to Ohio State, he served for six years as senior vice president for external affairs and development at Johns Hopkins University, where he led the Knowledge for the World Campaign, which closed in 2008 with commitments exceeding $3.7 billion. He also served in leadership roles at the University of California, Los Angeles, ranging from associate director of development in the School of Medicine to vice chancellor.

Eicher said he will continue to engage with the higher-education landscape after retiring from Ohio State, devoting additional time to mentorship efforts and nonprofit work.

Details on transition plans will be shared with the university community in the coming weeks.

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