J. Michael Pressimone
Photo Courtesy: St. Bonaventure University
BY: ELIZABETH KAMROWSKI, NEWS ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
On March 14, 2024, St. Bonaventure University announced the appointment of J. Michael Pressimone as Vice President for Advancement. Pressimone’s experience in higher education will bring valuable knowledge and success to Bonaventure.
Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Pressimone was a first-generation college student which gave him a sense of how valuable higher education is.
“I know how valuable higher education is in transforming lives,” said Pressimone. “I never thought I would be a leader in higher education when I was growing up, but that became and has continued to be the driving passion in my work.”
As Vice President for Advancement, Pressimone will manage the people and organizations that bring philanthropic dollars to Bonaventure.
“There are many people in advancement and in other areas of the university who participate in this process,” said Pressimone. “The work we do in advancement is supportive of the overall institutional mission and operation. Advancement is really a lifecycle operation.”
The work of Advancement supports missions such as the Bolder Bonaventure Campaign.
“At the moment, a key objective is the completion of the Bolder Bonaventure Campaign and to surpass the $125 million goal,” said Pressimone. “Key to this success is providing opportunities for President Gingerich to meet with donors willing to share their resources to support Bonas.”
Pressimone emphasizes that involving younger generations of the Bonaventure community will improve the future success of the university.
“We want to involve students to increase their awareness of the importance of giving, keep young alumni involved and engaged as they begin making their way in the world, develop alumni leaders who may return with gifts of time, talent, and treasure to support Bonaventure, and some may become trustees in the future,” said Pressimone.
Pressimone has previous leadership experience in higher education. He served as Vice President of Advancement at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania, Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina and Alvernia University in Pennsylvania. He also served as President at Fontbonne University in St. Louis and Notre Dame College in Ohio.
Pressimone believes this experience in higher education will be valuable to the Advancement team.
“Having served at smaller and more vulnerable institutions, I am well aware of the challenges facing our institutions of higher education today,” said Pressimone. “That gives me some valuable insight that I can share with the team here at SBU.”
Franciscanism is something that Prissimone appreciates about Bonaventure.
“I am a mission-driven leader, with a real passion for the Franciscan charism of Saint Bonaventure,” said Pressimone.
President Dr. Jeff Gingerich is happy to welcome Pressimone to Bonaventure.
“We were fortunate that someone with Michael’s successful fundraising track record and broad experience in higher ed was still available after the tragic passing last month of Jason Amore,” said Gingerich. “Michael will be a tremendous addition to our team.”
Pressimone admires the support and commitment of Bonaventure and believes he can make a difference.
“Bona’s has an amazingly strong and supportive alumni base, an unwavering commitment to mission and many strong assets that position it well to succeed,” said Pressimone. “I believe that I can be a part of the success of SBU.”
kamrowes23@bonaventure.edu
