Belmont University announced today the appointment of David Rosselli, currently Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations at Baylor University, as the new Executive Vice President for Advancement at Belmont University, effective August 1. Rosselli brings nearly three decades of strategic development experience at both public and private institutions to his new role at Belmont, where he will serve on the institution’s executive leadership team and report directly to the president.
Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones said, “The bold vision we have for Belmont’s future requires us to invest more deeply in garnering philanthropic support by prioritizing our fundraising and engagement efforts at the highest level. Dave Rosselli brings 29 years of increasingly advanced professional experience in this arena across a variety of institutions, and he has demonstrated an uncanny ability to build strong teams that achieve successful outcomes. We’re thrilled to welcome him and his wife Christine to the Belmont community and look forward to the impact he will have across our campus.”
As the Chief Advancement Officer for Baylor University, Rosselli oversees the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations, providing leadership, strategic planning and execution of all development and development-related activities of the university. He served as the principal architect for Baylor’s recent “Give Light” comprehensive fundraising campaign that was publicly announced in 2018 and recently exceeded its $1.1 billion goal.
In his new role at Belmont, Rosselli will work with a team of 25 professional staff focused on fundraising, alumni and family engagement, advancement services and special events. Building on successful philanthropic efforts that saw more than $52 million raised in the last fiscal year, Rosselli will be preparing for the University’s most ambitious comprehensive campaign to date in support of Belmont’s Strategic Path to 2030.
Rosselli noted, “As a Christ-centered institution that’s a proven leader in healthcare, entertainment and social innovation, I believe Belmont University is well-positioned for a dynamic future that can redefine the role of higher education. I’m so inspired by Belmont’s mission and vision, and I can’t wait to partner with President Jones and the rest of the leadership team to help accomplish the University’s God-sized dreams. To have this opportunity within a community as vibrant as Nashville is icing on the cake, and my wife Christine and I look forward to meeting and engaging with Belmont alumni, parents and friends throughout the country. Finally, I want to express my sincere gratitude for all my colleagues at Baylor—your friendship and professionalism are unparalleled, and I so appreciate your support as I embrace this exciting new challenge.
“Chris and I couldn’t be more excited about joining President Jones and the Belmont family. There was only one place that could’ve tempted us to consider leaving Baylor, and it was Belmont under President Jones’ leadership.”
Prior to his appointment at Baylor in 2015, Rosselli managed the front-line fundraisers and day-to-day operations necessary to develop major and principal gifts for the University of Southern California’s Northern California Advancement Operation. He oversaw a staff that coordinated USC’s activities in the region, including major and principal gifts, events and programs in support of USC’s $6 billion campaign. Rosselli also spent six years as Associate Athletic Director at the University of California Berkeley, overseeing a $500 million athletics campaign. In addition, he has previously held development positions with the University of the Pacific and Santa Clara University. Rosselli holds a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and a Master’s in Educational Psychology, both from University of the Pacific.
