Wentworth’s advancement division has a new leader. Paula S. Sakey joined Wentworth as vice president for institutional advancement in May.
Sakey comes to the Institute after 18 years at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, most recently as director of development for the College of Engineering, a position she held since 2006. In this role, Sakey captained a comprehensive fundraising program for the college, and was responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of a $33 million fundraising goal for the college as part of a $300 million UMass campaign.
Sakey served as director of development for the UMass Schools of Nursing and Public Health and Health Sciences from 1997 through 2006. During this time, she led efforts that raised $8.8 million in support of a $125 million university campaign.
Prior to her time at UMass, Sakey held a number of development roles at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from 1989 through 1997. She holds a bachelor of business administration degree from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass.
“Paula will be a top-notch addition to the senior leadership team and a terrific leader for the Institutional Advancement division,” says Wentworth President Zorica Panti?. “I am delighted to have her here.”
A native of eastern Massachusetts, Sakey was drawn to Wentworth by its reputation and by the chance to grow the Institute’s philanthropic programs.
“I think what’s appealing is the strategic plan, having a vision, and being able to look at how philanthropy can help move that vision forward,” Sakey says. “It’s about establishing performance metrics that are in line with our peer institutions, setting goals, raising the bar, setting our sights high, and having some fun doing it. It’s really exciting to be at Wentworth at this time. What a great opportunity.”
Sakey will oversee a team responsible for alumni relations; the annual fund; major gifts; government, corporate, and foundation fundraising; advancement operations; and communications. The division closed fiscal 2014 with the successful “Get on Board” challenge, which raised more than $600,000 for the annual fund. But there is plenty of opportunity for growth when it comes to giving, and Sakey believes knowledge is the first step toward changing the Institute’s culture around philanthropy.
“We have to educate the community about giving and how it can make a difference in terms of moving us forward as an institution,” she says.
–Caleb Cochran
