University of Southern Maine

News Releases

USM Names New Director of Major and Planned Gifts

August 11, 2005

Robert "Rusty" Atwood, former major gifts officer at Colby College in Waterville, has been named the USM Director of Major and Planned Gifts.

Within this role, his responsibilities include planning and directing the University's planned giving program as well as maintaining contacts and solicitation of a portion of all major gifts.

As a major gifts officer at Colby College for six years, Atwood was a member of a fundraising team responsible for soliciting gifts to the College of $50,000 or more. He also worked for four years as director of development and community relations at the Spurwink Institute, based in Portland. Atwood also worked for 18 years in various fields of public education in Maine as a social studies teacher, basketball coach, and assistant principal.

Atwood received a B.A. in political science/history in 1973 from the University of Maine, Orono, and a M.S. in educational administration from USM in 1981. He resides in Gorham.

>more news releases