Todd Bowers Named Executive Director of Development

Ithaca College has announced the appointment of Todd Bowers as its new executive director of development. Bowers, who had served in fund-raising positions for the past decade with Guthrie Healthcare System, began his new position on August 19.

"I am very pleased that Todd has brought his wealth of fund-raising experience to this important position," says Shelley Semmler, vice president for institutional advancement. "His responsibilities at Guthrie --- which included management of annual fund, major gift, planned giving, and corporate and foundation relations programs --- dovetail nicely with our own institutional advancement operations."

Bowers also brings a knowledge of Ithaca College to his position: he earned a master of science degree in communications from the Roy H. Park School of Communications in 1992.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to use both my education and my understanding of philanthropy to benefit an institution that is well-deserving of support," says Bowers. "I look forward to working with the Ithaca College community on a number of significant fund-raising efforts."

Bowers joined Guthrie Healthcare System in 1992 as manager of fund development. Based in Sayre, Pennsylvania, Guthrie employs 250 physicians and 4,200 healthcare professionals, serving residents of 40 counties in northern Pennsylvania and southern New York State. In 1995 Bowers was named corporate communications officer, and in 1997 he was promoted to vice president for development and community relations.

"In that role I was responsible for overall fund-raising planning and implementation, along with trustee, government, and community relations," says Bowers. His achievements included implementing a systemwide development database designed to maximize fund-raising, and positioning the institution for its first capital fund-raising campaign in 30 years.

In addition to his master’s degree from Ithaca, Bowers holds a bachelor of arts degree in broadcast journalism from Ohio State University. From 1986 to 1991 he was vice president and co-owner of WATS Broadcasting, where he was responsible for all station programming and hosted a morning show. He remains a partner in the corporation, which operates radio stations WATS in Sayre, WAVR in Waverly, New York, and WTTC AM/FM in Towanda, Pennsylvania. Among his community activities, Bowers is president of the Sayre Library Board of Trustees, helped initiate the Valley Leadership Program, and has served on the board of directors of the Twin Tiers Coalition for Learning.

Bowers succeeds Cassandra George, who is now the director of major and planned gifts at Le Moyne College.