After nearly two months leading Marymount University’s Office of University Advancement on an interim basis, Dennis Slon will stay on for the long term as the institution’s permanent Vice President for University Advancement.
Following his arrival on June 1, Slon quickly jumped in to support Marymount’s ambitious Strategic Plan goals by providing leadership and direction for all aspects of the University’s fundraising, development and external and alumni engagement efforts.
“Since coming on board, Slon has been an invaluable addition to my leadership team and he’s already proven himself as an effective communicator,” said Dr. Irma Becerra, President of Marymount University. “In just a short time, he’s been instrumental in organizing our legislative advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill to benefit our Dreamer students, and in the Office of University Advancement, he’s been busy formulating a blueprint for success in our next capital campaign while also preparing for October’s Homecoming Weekend and our inaugural Halo Awards event, which will recognize changemakers in our community. Looking forward to the new academic year and beyond, we are very excited to have someone with such extensive results-driven experience occupying this position.”
“Even before joining the Marymount family, I was very familiar with the University’s mission-driven focus and its genuine desire to help students on their academic and professional journeys. I also identified with the institution’s emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion as they reflect my own personal values,” Slon explained. “In addition, President Becerra’s dynamic energy and her Cabinet’s talent and expertise led me to see the enormous potential for realizing the future vision of Marymount in the years ahead.”
Slon’s career features over 30 years of experience in higher education fundraising, having spent the bulk of that time as Senior Vice President of University Relations at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles. While there, he completed both the $411 million “Right Place, Right Time” capital campaign and a $103 million scholarship initiative, both of which exceeded initial institutional goals.
Prior to his time at LMU, Slon was the Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations at UCLA and the Vice President for Development at the College of William & Mary, where he also led highly successful campaigns. In 2020, he moved back to Virginia and his hometown of Richmond, and has been involved in launching a new Cristo Rey High School in Orange County, Calif.
