“We are thrilled to welcome Michelle to CSUSM,” CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt said. “Her depth of experience and collaborative leadership style will be instrumental as we launch the biggest fundraising campaign in the university’s history and continue to build on the strong foundation.”

Clark brings more than 30 years of experience in philanthropy advising, nonprofit management and fundraising strategy. She has led development programs at institutions including Caltech, UC San Francisco, Emory University, USC and The Music Center.

During her career, Clark has contributed to more than $500 million in philanthropic gifts supporting higher education, scientific research, health equity and the arts. She has served in executive roles, advised presidents and provosts, and built high-performing teams. Her expertise includes planning and executing multibillion-dollar campaigns, navigating public-private partnerships, and shaping academic and community programs.

“I’m honored to join CSUSM at such a pivotal moment in its journey,” Clark said. “The campaign represents a bold vision for the university, and I’m delighted to partner with President Neufeldt, the advancement team, the Foundation Board and the entire campus community to help bring that vision to life." 

Clark also has a strong track record of working with fiduciary and fundraising boards, supporting governance, development and marketing committees. As a consultant and interim leader, she partners with universities, nonprofits and philanthropic advisory organizations to elevate strategy, optimize operations and drive results.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in art history and a certificate in management effectiveness from USC.

Clark will serve in an interim capacity while CSUSM continues to advance its fundraising and engagement efforts. A national search for a permanent vice president of advancement will begin this fall.

• A silver award for the Inaugural Social Mobility Donor Impact Report in the “Donor Relations & Stewardship Initiatives” category — led by Kris Vasquez, director of donor relations and stewardship, and Shaymaa Abusalih, donor relations and stewardship coordinator.
• A bronze award in Student Org Crowdfunding Month 2024 in the “Fundraising: Student-led Initiatives category” — led by Sean Briner, director of annual giving, and Alejandra Perkins, digital giving specialist.

Judges commended the report’s “compelling storytelling, placing the voices and experiences of recipients at the center of the narrative. Achieved by a small, resourceful team, it’s a testament to how authentic, student-led stories can deeply connect with alumni and elevate impact reporting.” 

For the crowdfunding honor, judges said, “the results are impressive” and it is “a great way to get various organizations on campus involved.” 

The Circle of Excellence Awards drew 4,460 entries from 640 institutions across 33 countries. CASE selected 477 entries for recognition, honoring work that exemplifies the best in advancement across marketing, alumni relations, fundraising, publications and leadership. 

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim assistant director of editorial and external affairs
ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

As vice president for University Advancement, Baur is responsible for division oversight of advancement, communications, alumni engagement, and events and conference services.

Baur also is overseeing CSUSM’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, Forward Together. The $50 million campaign is a united effort encompassing the University’s commitment to preparing tomorrow's leaders, building great communities and solving critical issues. CSUSM is more than 75 percent of the way toward its goal having raised more than $37.5 million.

“Cathy’s appointment allows us to maintain a leader in the division with a historical perspective, knowledge of our campus and a solid understanding of development and communications operations,” CSUSM President Karen Haynes said. “Furthermore, her leadership will provide a continuing strong trajectory during the last 18 months of our major philanthropic campaign, Forward Together.”

Baur has worked for CSUSM since December 2008 when she was hired as the University’s associate vice president for communications. In that role, she was responsible for overall campus communications, media relations, publications, marketing and branding, social media, web communications and legislative affairs.

Baur has more than 25 years of experience in public relations, management and communications in both the public and private sectors. She received her bachelor’s in journalism and public relations from Fresno State and her MBA from UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business.

About California State University San Marcos

Building on an innovative 27-year history, California State University San Marcos is a forward-focused institution, dedicated to preparing future leaders, building great communities and solving critical issues. Located on a 304-acre hillside overlooking the City of San Marcos, it is the only public four-year comprehensive university serving North San Diego, Southwest Riverside and South Orange Counties.

The University enrolls over 15,000 students. With approximately 2,000 employees, the institution is a Great College to Work For® (The Chronicle of Higher Education). As a recipient of the annual HEED Award since 2014—a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion—CSUSM is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment.

In the category of Multi-Day Special Events, CSUSM was recognized for the 25^th Anniversary Prowl Scavenger Hunt, a scavenger hunt that sent students, staff and faculty around campus to collect prizes.

In the category of General Interest Magazines with a circulation less than 29,999, the biannual publication for alumni and donors, Steps Magazine, earned accolades.

And in the category of Advancement Services Programs: Stewardship and Donor Relations, CSUSM won for its 2014 Donor Gift, an indigenous fire-resistant sage plant.

More than 500 entries were received and evaluated by a team of peer judges in the CASE western region (Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Northern Mariana Islands and Utah).

“Receiving acknowledgment that our programs and strategies represent best practices is gratifying, but even more rewarding is the knowledge that these awards reflect an exceptional campus-wide collaborative effort,” said Vice President for University Advancement Neal Hoss. “University Advancement would not be able to do the work that we do without the support of our talented faculty, staff and students as we foster ongoing relationships with donors and share our stories with the region and beyond.”

“Ed has enjoyed a distinguished and visionary career as a catalytic leader and public servant,” said CSUSM Vice President of University Advancement Neal Hoss. “We are thrilled and honored to have him on our team and look forward to working with him as a first-class fundraiser and strategist.”

Since 2005 Gillenwaters served as vice president/consultant of philanthropy at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute where he developed donor relationships and strategies that yielded major and principal gifts, including the largest-ever donation to a San Diego organization.

Since 2012 he has also served as the founding Chairman and Treasurer of the Board of Directors for Integra Center, a first-of-its-kind facility that strives to provide the U.S. military’s wounded warriors and their family members with care and support vital to rebuilding their lives and reintegrating into society.

Earlier on Gillenwaters was administrative assistant for San Diego Congressman Bob Wilson and served as director of commerce for California Governor Ronald Reagan. Under Governor Reagan, he created California’s first Economic Development Commission. In the private sector, he held leadership roles at Bank of America, Coldwell Banker and other corporations. As a volunteer co-chairman, he helped Ernest W. Hahn lead the University of Southern California’s campaign to build a new Health Sciences Campus. Later, he became senior director of external relations at the University of California, San Diego, where he raised major and principal gifts to build The Preuss School, to establish The Rady School of Management, and to support other initiatives and goals.

At CSUSM Gillenwaters joins a diverse team of professional fundraisers who are passionate about the University and the impact that it has on the San Diego region and beyond. Private donations are critical for Cal State San Marcos to continue to provide a quality, affordable education, to develop and apply new research, and to serve the broad communities of Southern California.

“I am enthused about joining CSUSM in this new role,” said Gillenwaters. “The entrepreneurial spirit of this institution and its commitment to the success and growth of North San Diego and Riverside Counties are admirable. In addition, the vision President Karen Haynes has established for the University is exciting and transformative. I am happy to be a part of its forward momentum.”

Contact Ed Gillenwaters via e-mail at gillenwatersed@gmail.com or gillenwaters@csusm.edu and via phone at 858-822-8978.

The Far West District of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) will recognize California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) with two Awards of Excellence at its annual conference and awards luncheon on Friday, March 6.

In the category of General Interest Magazines with a circulation less than 30,000, CSUSM won a Bronze Award for Steps, a biannual magazine for alumni and donors. The University also earned a Silver Award in the category of Issues & Crisis Management for its execution of crisis communications during the devastating Cocos Fire, a wildfire which threatened the university and resulted in the postponement of commencement ceremonies in May 2014. Steps and strategic/crisis communications are produced by the Office of Communications.

“We received a tremendous number of entries this year, over 470, and your excellent achievement stood out among the best,” wrote the CASE Awards of Excellence Committee in an e-mail announcing the awards.

The CASE District VII annually recognizes excellence and best practices in alumni relations, fundraising, public/government relations, advancement services, special events and outstanding communications. Entries are judged by a panel of experts who examine each entry for quality, creativity, innovation, adherence to professional standards, and success in meeting stated objectives.

“Acknowledgement by our peers that our programs and strategies represent best practices is extremely gratifying,” said Vice President for University Advancement Neal Hoss. “I am pleased to have our dedicated and talented staff recognized for their efforts to foster ongoing relationships with alumni and donors, and share our stories with the region and beyond. Their professionalism and responsiveness in the face of the Cocos Fire crisis—even when their own homes and families were being impacted—is particularly laudable.”

CASE, headquartered in Washington, D.C., CASE is an international association of professionals who advance educational institutions. CASE District VII represents the western region of the United States and includes Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Northern Mariana Islands and Utah.