Michigan State University Athletics
Ritrievi Named Development Director for Athletics
Ritrievi Named Development Director for Athletics
Former Northern Iowa athletic director will oversee all MSU athletic fund-raising activities.
May 11, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State University is enhancing its athletic fund-raising program with the appointment of Christopher Ritrievi as director of development for intercollegiate athletics, the university announced today.
Ritrievi comes to MSU from the University of Northern Iowa, where he is currently the director of athletics, overseeing a 19-sport Division I athletic program and all related fund-raising activities.
He brings several years of substantial fund-raising experience to MSU, having held leadership fund-raising positions within the athletic departments of Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, he has held the positions of associate director for leadership gifts at Princeton and acting director of athletic development at Bowling Green State University.
"Chris brings a unique set of skills and experiences to MSU," said Chuck Webb, MSU vice president for University Development. "His blend of fund-raising and athletic experience makes him the right candidate at this time for this new position at University Development."
The new position is a joint appointment with University Development and Athletics and will report to both Marti Heil, associate vice president for University Development, and Interim Athletics Director Clarence Underwood.
"We are very excited to have Chris join our team," said Underwood, MSU's interim director of athletics. "We are confident he has the experience necessary to take our program to a new level, which will benefit all athletic programs at Michigan State."
Ritrievi will oversee all fund-raising activities for intercollegiate athletics, including the Ralph Young Fund. The Ralph Young Fund received over $4.6 million in gift income in the 1997-98 fiscal year and nearly $700,000 in deferred gifts.
"With an upcoming capital campaign, we saw a need to expand our fund-raising capabilities," Webb said. "Chris is the kind of person we need to help us meet our long-term development goals."
"I appreciate the opportunity to join the MSU family and look forward to planning and implementing a major capital campaign that will help the athletic program at MSU be one of the best in the Big Ten and the NCAA," Ritrievi said.
Ritrievi will begin his appointment on July 1 at a salary of $82,000.