ӴӴ Welcomes Mary-Knight “MK” Bell Young as Vice President of Institutional Advancement
Longmeadow, MA –ӴӴ is pleased to announce the appointment of Mary-Knight “MK” Bell Young to the position of Vice President of Institutional Advancement. With over 20 years of experience in securing philanthropic investments for prestigious academic, cultural, and healthcare institutions, MK Young brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of success to her new role.
In this leadership position, MK Young will oversee all aspects of ӴӴ's fundraising efforts, alumni relations, and strategic partnerships. Her role will be crucial in advancing the university’s mission and ensuring sustained growth and support for its programs and initiatives.
MK Young joins ӴӴ after serving as Chief Development Officer and Senior Executive Director at UMass Amherst Foundation, where she led a comprehensive $100M+ fundraising campaign for UMass College of Engineering, securing over $60.7M to date. Her career highlights include securing the College's first 8-figure gift and achieving 100% participation in annual giving for two consecutive years from the Dean’s Advisory Council.
Her previous roles include Senior Director of Development at Penn Medicine, where she was instrumental in securing $26M+ during the Power of Penn campaign, and Major Gifts Officer at Temple University Health System, where she played a key role in securing the naming gift for the Lewis Katz School of Heath.
"Mary-Knight’s extensive experience and success in development and alumni relations make her a perfect fit for ӴӴ," said President Sandra J. Doran of ӴӴ. "Her leadership will be invaluable as we continue to expand our reach and impact in higher education, and with the acquisition of Cambridge College, embrace and support the newest members of the ӴӴ family—our Cambridge College alumni."
MK Young holds a reputation for building strong relationships with donors and managing successful fundraising campaigns. Her appointment marks a significant step forward for ӴӴ as it seeks to deepen its engagement with alumni, donors, and community partners.
MK Young graduated with a BA, History of Art, from the University of Pennsylvania.