An advancement executive with 25 years of experience in healthcare and higher education has been chosen as the new associate vice president of medical and health sciences development for the West Virginia University Foundation. Jeffrey A. Schoenherr began his new position May 1, WVU Foundation Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer Bernard J. “B.J.” Davisson announced.
“I am thrilled that Jeff has joined our WVU Foundation team,” Davisson said. “He brings a wealth of talent and diverse experience in all facets of philanthropic endeavors and donor and volunteer engagement. His depth of knowledge in higher education and healthcare development will really help us grow, especially in our signature medical programs like cancer treatment/research, heart and vascular, neuroscience and children’s health. I am confident Jeff will provide the leadership necessary to dramatically enhance the success of fundraising across our medical and health enterprise.”
Schoenherr said, “It’s a tremendous honor to be chosen to lead the philanthropic efforts for medicine and the health sciences at WVU. Our success is important to the state of West Virginia, so we will commit to building strong, lasting relationships with our supporters. There is a solid foundation in place and I look forward to working with the faculty, staff and administration to help advance the mission and goals of WVU Medicine.”
Schoenherr is an accomplished development professional who has served in increasingly greater roles at some of the nation's most prestigious institutions.
Most recently, he was assistant vice president for principal gifts at The Ohio State University. Prior to that, he spent time as vice president of development and alumni relations at Emerson College in Boston, and executive director of development and alumni relations at Harvard Law School. From 2001-2011, Schoenherr worked at John Hopkins University as director of regional and international development and senior associate director of major gifts.
Schoenherr earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan where he started his career working in numerous development, alumni relations and admissions roles for ten years. He holds advanced certificates from John Hopkins University in Situational Delegation, Excellence in Management: Driving Results, Leadership Development, Enhancing Work Relationships and the Management Track.
Schoenherr is a frequent presenter at professional development conferences sponsored by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and has served many times as a CASE Conference chair and faculty member.
Active in the community, Schoenherr has served as a volunteer and/or on the boards of many organizations including the Boy Scouts of America, United Way of Central Maryland, Delta Chi Fraternity, The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore and the Ann Arbor Summer Festival.
Schoenherr and his wife, Maria, are the parents of two children, Marco and Natalia.
Founded in 1954, the WVU Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that solicits and administers private donations on behalf of the University.