Pamela Ferguson is in her fourteenth year as the vice president of institutional advancement at William Paterson University.  She also serves as the president of the William Paterson University Foundation. Pam leads a team of twenty-one whose priority is to increase the philanthropic support to the University.  Pam reports directly to the President and is a member of the University’s cabinet. During her tenure, Pam has concentrated on building a strategic advancement team, increasing annual cash and commitments supporting William Paterson students and programs, and growing the assets and endowment of the Foundation.  She has a reputation for leading her team in a highly donor-centric manner and is a constant advocate for her team members, their professional development. and success reaching individual and divisional KPIs.   Following industry trends, she brought together Annual Giving and Alumni Relations maximizing the talent of both departments and thereby promoting a director of major gifts to serve as the inaugural assistant vice president of the newly formed department of Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy.  During her tenure the total assets of the Foundation have grown over 280% and the endowment over 300%.  With scholarship support being of the utmost importance at William Paterson, the Foundation has grown the scholarship endowment nearly 585% and increased the distribution and the number of donor scholarship awards substantially each year. 

Prior to joining William Paterson, Pam worked at Seton Hall University serving in various fundraising capacities and finally as the associate vice president of development. During this time, the University completed a $152 million capital campaign.  Pam also worked as the director of advancement at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia and as the director of special programs at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 

In addition to her extensive fundraising experience, Pam has also participated in strategic planning at several of these institutions and is currently serving as the cabinet-level executive sponsor for one of the University’s five strategic pillars.  Pam also served on the strategic planning committee of her high school alma mater where she was named Distinguished Alumna of the Year in 2009.  Pam is a former trustee and member of the development committee of Marylawn Academy in South Orange, New Jersey.  Pam has also given several presentations on fundraising and leadership at various conferences and workshops including the Diocese of Arlington, CASE II, and Partners in Mission.  Pam holds a B.A. in history from S.U.N.Y. Binghamton.   In her spare time, Pam enjoys golf and travel and most especially spending time with her four grandsons.