Julie Cryser, assistant dean of advancement for the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design at West Virginia University, has accepted a position as the assistant dean for development for the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.
Cryser will begin her new position at the Eberly College on Monday, Nov. 5. At the Eberly College, she will lead the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.
Cryser has served as the assistant dean in the Davis College for the last three years, previously serving as the director of development since January 2012.
“I am very excited about working for the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and look forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,” Cryser said. “As the largest college in the University, the Eberly College offers a diversity of programs with a variety of fundraising opportunities. I look forward to getting to know its faculty, staff, students, alumni and donors.”
During her time in the Davis College, she ensured the College reached and exceeded its campaign goal of $24 million, assisting Davis in ending the campaign at $30 million. As a part of the campaign, Cryser helped to secure the college’s second-largest donation in its history, a $6.7 million gift from the Hazel Ruby McQuain Trust to support renovations of the equine facilities on the J.W. Ruby Research Farm in Reedsville, West Virginia.
She was also instrumental in the development and coordination of the College’s Young Innovator Program, which assisted students with developing innovative ideas and businesses. She also secured funding to hire a Farm Credit Student Leadership Academy Coordinator, a position that will work with students who receive private funding for undergraduate research, education abroad and other value-added experiences.
On the communications side of advancement, Cryser lead a Davis College team that published a 150th anniversary history book to celebrate the College’s milestone anniversary. Under her guidance, the college increased communications, including producing two magazines per year, a monthly alumni newsletter, videos and internal communications.
Cryser began her career at WVU in 2001 in the Reed College of Media, then known as the P.I. Reed School of Journalism, as a public relations and alumni coordinator and adjunct news-editorial lecturer. She moved to WVU Extension Service in May 2006, where she served as the development director. WVU Extension reached and exceeded its initial $4 million State of Minds campaign goal under her tenure.
Prior to joining WVU, Cryser worked as a reporter and editor in newspapers throughout West Virginia and Pennsylvania, having earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from WVU.
