Dear AU Community,

With deep gratitude for her exemplary service to the American University community, I am announcing today that Vice President of University Advancement Courtney Surls will be leaving at the completion of the Change Can’t Wait campaign. After leading AU to unparalleled philanthropic success and impact that will benefit the AU community for generations, Courtney will start a new chapter of personal pursuits later this year, allowing her to spend more time with family in California.

Nine years ago, President Neil Kerwin and the Board of Trustees led the search for the person who would prepare AU for a campaign and the next president. With her extensive fundraising experience, collaborative style, and always contagious enthusiasm, Courtney was the right person at the right time.

Courtney hit the ground running and engaged in the critical work to position the university to launch its most ambitious fundraising campaign to date—Change Can’t Wait: The Campaign for American University—which has now surpassed $464 million towards its $500 million goal. 

The Change Can’t Wait campaign is a historic effort, one that sets the stage for AU’s next era. The impact of the campaign is already recognized across the university—from the more than 150 scholarships created or expanded and the four centers and institutes established or endowed to the nine endowed faculty positions created and the launch of the $109 million Student Thriving Complex, the largest investment in student thriving in the university’s history. 

From the beginning, Courtney focused on a sophisticated and comprehensive fundraising campaign that reflected AU’s strengths, reputation, and community. I am grateful that she will be seeing us to its successful conclusion.

Over the course of Courtney’s tenure, AU’s fundraising has more than doubled. Under her leadership, the University Advancement team has elevated the importance of fundraising, resource development, and relationship building at American University. And, she has helped AU leverage significant momentum in support of strategic priorities, attracting new sources of funding and deepening lifelong relationships between AU and its 150,000 alumni. 

Courtney’s exemplary leadership of University Advancement is only matched by her exemplary service as a member of AU’s leadership team. She leads by doing—from ensuring that inclusive excellence is core to her team to using analytics and delivering results. Her contributions around the cabinet table have made the whole university better, and her enthusiasm, optimism, and sense of community are a star for all of us to follow!

As we approach the finish line, Courtney and the University Advancement team are completely focused on a strong Change Can’t Wait campaign finish. Looking ahead, it’s clear that sustaining and ensuring the future success of advancement at American University will require unified leadership and a commitment to our shared mission.  A nationwide search for Courtney’s successor will be launched as the new fiscal year begins, and AU’s next president joins the community.

Once the campaign concludes, Dan Luperchio, associate vice president for development, will serve as interim vice president of university advancement. Dan has extensive experience as a senior leader who has forged strong relationships across campus and successfully navigated the challenges and opportunities of a complex organization. In this capacity, Dan will lead a seasoned and cohesive senior team, providing continuity and focus during this time of transition. 

I hope you will join me in thanking and celebrating Courtney as she leads this effort through its most history-making moment of completion. We will have a proper celebration for Courtney, and maybe get her to sing, later this year!

Sincerely,

Sylvia