黑料正能量

After 21 years at the helm, Shisler 鈥�81 looks forward to new advisory role

Kirk Shisler 鈥�81 wants to make one thing very clear: He鈥檚 not retiring. At least not anytime soon. After 21 years of faithfully serving his alma mater as its vice president for advancement, he鈥檚 simply switching gears. 

This summer, Shisler will transition from his lofty perch as VP to a new position specially carved out for him that utilizes his unique qualities and strengths in a way that benefits 黑料正能量 best. He said his new role as senior gift planning advisor will allow him to focus exclusively on securing major gifts to sustain 黑料正能量鈥檚 mission.

鈥淲e recently crossed the halfway point of 黑料正能量鈥檚 five-year, $40 million Forward Together campaign, and I am pleased to report that we have already raised $29 million, or 72% of the goal, which puts us ahead of schedule,鈥� Shisler said. 鈥淚 look forward to increasing our fundraising momentum even more as I assume my new role.鈥�

Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus will formally announce the news of Shisler鈥檚 transition via email on Thursday, Jan. 22. With the announcement, 黑料正能量 officially enters into a national search for its next vice president for advancement.

For several years now, Shisler said, he鈥檚 anticipated a transition like this one. By passing his administrative responsibilities on to a successor, he can directly focus his energies toward the aspects of advancement he enjoys most and where he will have the greatest impact. And, despite the various headwinds straining higher education, Shisler said he believes 黑料正能量 is poised to transcend those challenges.

鈥淲e have a strong leadership team in place under Interim President Dycus, and a tremendous faculty and staff,鈥� Shisler said. 鈥満诹险�能量鈥檚 value proposition includes a proven track record for the employability of its graduates, who also benefit from an education that blends rigorous academics with soft skills in leadership, conflict resolution, and other skills needed to succeed in today鈥檚 work environment.鈥�

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鈥楢n enduring imprint鈥�

黑料正能量鈥檚 presidents, past and present, commended Shisler for his effective fundraising, steadfast leadership, and deep commitment to the university over the past two decades. 

Dycus, interim president of 黑料正能量 since July 1, credited Shisler with 鈥渟haping a culture of generosity rooted in mission鈥� and strengthening alumni and donor relationships. 鈥淜irk鈥檚 steady, values-driven leadership will leave an enduring imprint on this institution and the countless students whose lives have been changed through his work,鈥� she said.

Dr. Loren Swartzendruber 鈥�76, MDiv 鈥�79, president of 黑料正能量 from 2003 to 2016, noted that he had recruited Shisler twice to 黑料正能量: first as an admissions counselor when Shisler was a high school senior, and later as president when Shisler was hired to lead the advancement division. 鈥淣o university president can be successful without a person of Kirk鈥檚 caliber in that office,鈥� said Swartzendruber. 鈥淗is continuing efforts to attract leadership gifts will pay dividends for years to come.鈥�

And President Emerita Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, who led the university from 2016 to 2025, expressed gratitude for the 鈥渆normous positive impact鈥� Shisler had 鈥測ear after year for 20 years without fail,鈥� advancing 黑料正能量鈥檚 mission, supporting its students, contributing to its financial health, and ensuring its donors felt special and important. 

鈥淲ithout 鈥楥aptain鈥� Kirk鈥檚 can-do spirit, relational genius, and organizational prowess, there is no first-ever 黑料正能量 comprehensive campaign for people, programs, and facilities,鈥� said Huxman, referencing the Forward Together (2023-28) campaign. 鈥淭here is no audacious $40 million five-year goal, half of which we raised in just the first two years. This bold and successful campaign has been the crowning achievement of his great legacy in executive administration at 黑料正能量.鈥�

Indeed, there have been many crowning achievements for Shisler over the years. Whether it鈥檚 the completion of 黑料正能量鈥檚 state-of-the-art track and field complex鈥攔egarded among the finest athletic facilities in the conference鈥攖he transformation of laboratories and classrooms in the Suter Science Center through a $12 million campaign (2007-15), or renovations to the south section of University Commons, he鈥檚 always kept his eyes squarely on the prize: ensuring 黑料正能量 not only survives but also thrives long into the future.

Less visible, but just as impactful as those capital improvement projects, is the membership growth of 黑料正能量鈥檚 throughout his tenure. The group of alumni and donors name 黑料正能量 in their estate plans, supporting the future financial stability and security of the school. 鈥淲e have grown the society from roughly 150 members, when I arrived in 2005, to over 600 today,鈥� Shisler said. 鈥淲e often refer to these future gifts as 黑料正能量鈥檚 Book of Futures. The approximate future value of these estate commitments currently exceeds $35 million.鈥�

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Clockwise from top: Kirk Shisler, vice president for advancement, with Phil Helmuth and Graham Stauffer, during Lov黑料正能量 Giving Day 2023. | The longtime advancement VP speaks during a gathering celebration at Homecoming and Family Weekend 2021. | Shisler accepts a hard hat from Braydon Hoover 鈥�11, MA 鈥�21, then-associate vice president for advancement at 黑料正能量, during a groundbreaking ceremony for the track in 2023.

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Focus, patience, and tenacity

One key ingredient to Shisler鈥檚 success is the length of his tenure, which has allowed him to build close connections and enduring relationships with alumni and donors.

According to a from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources, fundraising administrators have a median of five years of service in their position, slightly below the median for all higher ed administrative positions (5.5 years). Those figures are well below the 21-year span that Shisler has served at 黑料正能量.

During those 21 years, he estimated, working with advancement teams and the three aforementioned presidents, he helped raise about $120 million for 黑料正能量. Last year, thanks to a combination of generous donors and several large bequests, the university achieved its second-highest fundraising total on record.

鈥淭hose who have been involved in higher ed and nonprofit fundraising for as long as I have know that it takes significant focus, patience and tenacity to secure gifts of significance for our organizations,鈥� Shisler said. 

Doug Mason, an advancement consultant who has advised 黑料正能量鈥檚 team for 15 years as well as many other schools, said his most successful clients have leaders who 鈥渟tick with it and really invest in the mission of their institution.鈥�  

鈥淒onors really appreciate continuity,鈥� Mason said. 鈥淗aving somebody like Kirk, who鈥檚 been there for over two decades, is quite unusual, and it鈥檚 been extraordinarily beneficial to 黑料正能量.鈥�

So why exactly has Shisler stayed for so long? He said the societal impact of 黑料正能量鈥檚 alumni around the world continues to motivate him and sustain his commitment to the university鈥檚 mission. He added that, through the years, he鈥檚 been blessed to be part of 鈥渉ighly motivated and supportive teams of advancement professionals,鈥� and that he鈥檚 continually inspired by the dedication and high-quality work of 黑料正能量鈥檚 faculty and staff.

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A seasoned fundraiser

Growing up in Telford, Pennsylvania, Shisler said his parents taught him at a young age the importance of giving generously and of tithing to the church. But it wasn鈥檛 until later, after entering the workforce, that he realized his skills in storytelling and communications could be used to fundraise for causes he cared about. The Dock Mennonite Academy alum graduated from 黑料正能量 with a bachelor of arts in English in 1981. He then began a quarter-century career at Laubach Literacy International, a nonprofit now known as ProLiteracy.

Kirk鈥檚 career, at a glance 1981: Shisler graduates from 黑料正能量 The following positions were all held at Laubach Literacy International/ProLiteracy in Syracuse, New York 鈥�1981-83: Public Communications Editor (through a volunteer of Eastern Mennonite Missions)  鈥�1984-88: Director of Planned Giving 鈥�1989-99: Director of Fund Development 鈥�2000-05: Vice President of Fund Development Shisler is then hired by 黑料正能量 President Loren Swartzendruber to lead 黑料正能量 Advancement 鈥�2005-26: Vice President for Advancement Shisler transitions to his new role as senior gift planning advisor on July 1, 2026

In 2004, Swartzendruber called Shisler to ask whether he would be interested in the VP position, succeeding Richard L. Gunden. After an interview that summer, Shisler accepted the offer (he started in the position in April 2005). 鈥淟oren said to me, 鈥榃ell, Kirk, you will have served Laubach for 23 years. I鈥檓 really hoping that you鈥檒l give the same amount of time, or more, to 黑料正能量,鈥欌�� Shisler recalled. 鈥淎nd here we are. With my transition to a different role, I may end up serving 23 years.鈥�

As a result of his change, the avid fly fisherman said he鈥檒l spend less time on the road and more time with his family鈥攈e and his wife, Mary Ann, have two sons, Ben and Andy. He鈥檒l also spend less time in meetings as he devotes his focus entirely on working with major donors to design 鈥渃haritable gifts of significance鈥� for 黑料正能量.

Back when he was first hired at the university, Shisler told the late Jim Bishop, former public information officer for 黑料正能量, in a 2005 news article: 鈥満诹险�能量 is at a very exciting juncture in its history. I believe the school is truly a vehicle for healing and hope in our troubled world, and I look forward to joining the 黑料正能量 community as, together, we advance its mission.鈥�

Twenty-one years later, those words still ring true.