Paul Clifford has stepped down as chief executive officer of the Penn State Alumni Association after nine years in the role.
Clifford left the position as head of the world’s largest dues-paying alumni organization effective Thursday “to pursue other opportunities,” according to the university.
“Leading the world’s largest alumni association alongside our dedicated volunteers and connecting my fellow alumni to their alma mater has been the highlight of my career,” Clifford said. “Our alumni are passionate about Dear Old State, and it’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve them.”
Clifford, a Pennsylvania native who earned a master’s degree in higher education from Penn State, the 11th chief executive of the 154-year-old Alumni Association in January 2016. Since then he led Penn State’s alumni relations strategy while overseeing an organization with about 173,000 members, nearly 300 affiliate groups, 55 staff members and a $13 million budget.
During his tenure, the Alumni Association’s endowment grew by 58% to provide nearly $25 million in guaranteed revenue over a 10-year period, according to the university, and the number of endowments supporting the organization increased from 16 to 41.
Penn State also credited Clifford with setting “new milestones in alumni engagement annually,” revamping the organization’s membership program, an increased investment in the Black Alumni Reunion that resulted in record attendance numbers and an agreement by Alumni Association leadership to contribute $3.5 million to support Renaissance Scholarships, the Student Emergency Fund, Class Gifts, Trustee Scholarships and THON.
“Over the past nine years, Paul Clifford has been so much more than the CEO of the Penn State Alumni Association — he has been a visionary leader, a trusted friend, and the true embodiment of the ‘We Are’ spirit,” Anand Ganjam, president of the Penn State Alumni Association, said in a statement.
“His time at Penn State has been defined by his ability to foster meaningful connections and opportunities for alumni, and instill a deep sense of pride — all driven by his clear and unwavering love for Penn State. While Paul will be deeply missed, I wish him and his family all the best as they begin their next chapter and have no doubt his legacy of service to Penn State will continue to inspire future generations of Penn Staters.”
Prior to his time at Penn State, Clifford was associate vice president of advancement at the University of Oregon and executive director of the school’s alumni association. He previously held alumni relations roles at East Carolina University, the University of Connecticut, SUNY New Paltz and James Madison University.
Penn State did not disclose a process or timeline for selecting the next leader of the Alumni Association.
