Elizabeth Boluch Wood Appointed IAS Chief Development Officer

The Institute for Advanced Study has appointed Elizabeth Boluch Wood as its new Chief Development Officer. Wood, who was Vice President for Development at Princeton University from 2010 to 2016, and most recently served as Assistant to the President for Capital Gifts, will join the Institute in September. Among her many accomplishments at Princeton, Wood successfully concluded the largest fundraising campaign in the University’s history, Aspire, and, during her tenure, oversaw a total of $1.7 billion in capital gifts and annual giving. Under Wood’s leadership, Princeton had the two largest fundraising years in its history—$341 million in 2012 and $550 million in 2015. Wood replaces Fred Van Sickle, who left the Institute earlier this year to become Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development at Cornell University.

As the Institute’s Chief Development Officer and Associate Director for Development and Communications, Wood will lead a comprehensive program advancing the Institute’s singular role as one of the world’s leading institutions for basic research. Wood will further develop and evolve the Institute’s fundraising, working closely with the development staff, the Institute’s Trustees and Robbert Dijkgraaf, Director and Leon Levy Professor at the Institute.

Dijkgraaf commented, “I am very pleased to welcome Liz to the Institute to lead, guide and expand our development efforts with her consummate professionalism and impressive depth of experience. I am personally looking forward to collaborating with Liz to further engage our network of existing donors and to activate new prospects.”

Regarding her appointment, Wood said, “I am excited and honored to be joining the Institute for Advanced Study. I look forward to working with the many dedicated scholars and staff to advance the mission of this exceptional institution.”

Wood began her career at Princeton University in 1995 as a Senior Associate Director of Leadership Gifts. In 2001 she joined the Cancer Institute of New Jersey as Chief Development Officer, returning to Princeton in 2005 to become Director of Principal Gifts. After serving in other leadership positions, Wood became Vice President for Development in 2010. Prior to 1995, Wood was a development officer at Harvard University, Brown University, Simmons College and Amherst College. Wood earned her undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature from Amherst. From 2013 to 2016, she chaired the steering committee for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s top 50 fundraising organizations in higher education. Wood is a board member of the American Repertory Ballet. She resides in Princeton with her husband and children.

Photo of Elizabeth Boluch Wood by Andrea Kane