McElwain named UF/IFAS assistant vice president for development

December 10, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Longtime University of Florida development executive Ann McElwain has been named assistant vice president for development for UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Jack Payne, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, appointed McElwain to the post Oct. 26. She had served as UF/IFAS interim assistant vice president for development since August.

“Ann already has a winning record for connecting with UF alumni and friends, and securing their support for exciting new projects,” Payne said. “I’m extremely pleased with her initial efforts here. We both look forward to developing comprehensive fundraising goals for UF/IFAS and sharing our vision with all of our supporters.”

McElwain succeeds Ken DeVries, who held the position from June 2005 until his retirement in July 2012.

“I’m excited to be here,” McElwain said. “There are so many wonderful things going on at UF/IFAS and I’m glad to be a part of it.”

McElwain arrived at UF in 2005, taking the post as chief development officer for the College of Engineering. In 2006 the University of Florida Foundation named her an assistant vice president for development.

With UFF, her most noteworthy accomplishment was helping lead the university’s Florida Tomorrow Capital Campaign, which ran from fall 2007 to fall 2012 and raised more than $1.5 billion, including almost $150 million for UF/IFAS.

Prior to arriving at UF, McElwain was managing director of Jack and Jill Children’s Center, a child care facility in Fort Lauderdale that serves low-income working families.

At UF/IFAS, McElwain’s immediate goal is to work with administrators to identify major funding needs and begin planning fundraising efforts to meet them.

“With state and federal funding cuts, development is more important than ever,” she said. “I look forward to creating new relationships, strengthening existing ones, and helping tell the world about all the great things UF/IFAS is doing.”