MADISON—After 21 years as president of the University of Wisconsin Foundation, Andrew A. “Sandy” Wilcox has announced plans to retire at the end of 2010. Wilcox informed the Foundation’s board of directors during its regular meeting Friday. The early announcement will allow for an orderly transition and will give the newly appointed search committee sufficient time to find a successor.
“Sandy is recognized as the dean of public university foundation leaders, admired by his peers and highly respected throughout the UW System,” said Paul Collins, chair of the Foundation’s board. “He is the consummate professional and has built our endowment, managed a first-class organization and established enduring relationships with our donors, the University and the Madison community. We are fortunate that Sandy has agreed to continue as a consultant beyond his retirement. We thank him for his many accomplishments.”
Chancellor Biddy Martin added that “Sandy’s contributions as president of the UW Foundation are nothing short of extraordinary. Sandy and his team have provided the University’s margin of excellence. We are most grateful for his vision. His experience, generosity and sense of humor have helped make my transition easier and more enjoyable. I look forward to what we can achieve together over the course of this year on the Great People Scholarship Campaign, our undergraduate financial aid support effort.”
Since 1988, when Wilcox assumed his duties as president, the Foundation’s assets under management have grown from $190 million to $2.5 billion, gift receipts have totaled $2.9 billion and distributions to the University of Wisconsin-Madison have totaled more than $2 billion. Most recently, he led the successful $1.8 billion “Create the Future: The Wisconsin Campaign” that concluded in 2005.
“It has been my honor to lead the people and activities of the Foundation for the past 21 years,” Wilcox said. “Through that time, we have seen public-private partnerships change the university for the better, and we have connected our alumni and friends with ways to support their passions on campus.”