[430] New MTSU Development Director Perlick Brings ‘Diversity of Experiences’

Release date: April 22, 2009


News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919 or jweiler@mtsu.edu


New MTSU Development Director
Perlick Brings ‘Diversity of Experiences’

(MURFREESBORO) — After conducting an eight-month national search, MTSU found new Director of Development Nick Perlick right in its back yard.
Perlick, 31, a Pittsburgh, Pa., native and former development director and officer at Ohio State University from 2003 to 2005, moves to MTSU after serving as the Middle Tennessee Medical Center Foundation’s executive director since December 2006.
“I’m very excited to be here,” said Perlick, who started March 23. “Most of my previous experience has been in higher education at large state universities. I’m hopeful that some of the things I learned at those institutions we can bring here to help MTSU.
“In the first few weeks,” he added, “I have found the staff in development and university relations to be a wonderful group of people. They have been great to work with so far.”
In his position, Perlick will oversee an office of 10 people, which includes development directors who work with the Colleges of Basic and Applied Sciences, Business, Education/Distance Learning, Liberal Arts and Mass Communications; an assistant director and coordinator for annual giving; an executive aide; and a secretary.
Joe Bales, vice president for development and university relations, said he is pleased with the selection of Perlick and his decision to accept the job’s challenges.
“We’re extremely excited to have Nick here,” Bales said. “The diversity of experiences he brings, having worked at two major institutions (Ohio State and Florida State universities) and the hospital, is an added dimension.
“He will bring new ideas and perspectives to our program and help provide the highest service to our donors and alumni. He will be a great fit for us.”
Perlick said development’s “primary job is to raise private funding for a wide variety of university needs.
In light of current economic times, Perlick said he knows the challenge will be great.
“Clearly, the great challenge the university is facing now is similar for us in development,” he said. “The alumni and donor prospects we will be engaging are facing the same economic difficulties the university is facing.

“Interestingly, what we’re going through provides a unique opportunity to strengthen our case for support. … Never before have we needed philanthropy to be such a major part of the university’s funding.”
The new development director said he “hopes the dollars the development office is able to raise can help significantly in the continued transformation of the university.”
At the MTMC Foundation, Perlick led the oversight and management of all fundraising efforts. In his role there, his personal cultivation and solicitation of individual, corporate and foundation gifts ranged from $100 to $10 million. When he left, the MTMC Foundation was in the midst of planning and coordinating a $20 million capital campaign.
Perlick replaces Kirk Purdom, who left MTSU in July 2008 to become vice president of advancement at Kentucky Wesleyan College in his hometown of Owensboro.
Perlick and his wife, Erin, a native of Crossville, live in Murfreesboro. They have an 8-month-old son, Ross.

For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.

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Note: For a high-resolution jpeg photo of new Director of Development Nick Perlick or to schedule an interview with him, contact Randy Weiler at 615-898-5616