Uricoli named Executive Director of the Cecil College Foundation
Published on June 21, 2021
NORTH EAST, Md. – As Cecil College continues to be a catalyst for the county’s economic growth and enhanced quality of life, after a nationwide search, the College is excited to announce Karen Uricoli to the leadership role of Executive Director of the Cecil College Foundation and Alumni Development. Uricoli is acutely qualified for this position, which is vital to the success of students at Cecil College.
In its inception, Cecil Community College was founded to be a local, affordable alternative to access a college degree. For more than five decades, Cecil College has been much more, providing students a way to a better life and community by pursuing an education. Moving forward, Cecil College will continue to challenge and prepare students to meet the demanding needs of local businesses and industries.
“I am passionate about the Foundation’s mission of developing financial and other resources to help our students in their educational pursuits. This is an opportunity to help grow not only the Foundation but also help grow resources that will benefit the residents of Cecil County,” said Uricoli. “I will be cultivating new relationships and student opportunities with foundation directors, donors, and community members with an immediate eye on completing the fundraising events we have coming up in the next few months.”
The Foundation assists students by offering financial support in the form of scholarships and other resource needs, including technology access. Data shows students who received a scholarship were twice as likely to complete their degree as those who didn’t apply for a scholarship. The data also revealed more than 90 percent of Cecil College students work 20 hours a week to make ends meet. Over a 15-week semester, a $150 scholarship means that a student can work one less hour a week and put that time toward their academic pursuits and family.
This mission falls right into the wheelhouse of Uricoli’s talents, having been the Senior Development Director for Rutgers Business School’s Institute for Ethical Leadership, where she expanded the portfolio of more than 25 leadership education programs through fostering sustainable funding sources. By developing a strategic funding raising plan, the institute surpassed its 2016 campaign of $1.5 million by 10 percent and its $1.7 million goals by 18 percent the following year. In her role, she nurtured relationships with key corporate sponsors to ensure involvement in all relevant institutional activities and recognition opportunities.
“I am very outgoing, and I have the personality to meet new people to build those relationships. I have the vision to increase the community’s awareness of the Foundation and all that it does for our Cecil College students,” said Uricoli. “Once you get someone’s ear about a good cause, it is easy to get them involved and interested in how they can help. The opportunities for advancing the Foundation are endless.”
Uricoli earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Boston University before completing a Master of Art in arts administration from Columbia University in New York City.
Since 1968, Cecil College has been serving the community and shaping its future through its open admissions policy to provide learning opportunities for all who have the desire and ability to benefit from its courses and programs. Centrally located in Maryland’s most northeastern county adjacent to Interstate 95, Cecil College boasts a diverse student population, approximately 2,500 credit students and 3,400 non-credit students. Cecil offers associate degrees, certificate programs, and non-credit classes.
To learn more about how to help Cecil County’s youth own their futures through scholarships at Cecil College, contact Karen Uricoli by calling 410-287-1044 or email kuricoli@nullcecil.edu.