MARYANN STEWART JOINS LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGY AS VICE PRESIDENT FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS
Brings High-Level Fundraising Experience from UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering
SAN DIEGO - April 9, 2007 - MaryAnn F. Stewart has joined the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology (LIAI), one of the world's leading immunology research centers, in the newly created position of vice president for external relations/chief development officer. Stewart was chosen following a nationwide search and comes to LIAI from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where she served as executive director of external relations for the Jacobs School of Engineering.
In her new role at LIAI, she will be in charge of developing and leading the Institute's first formal fundraising program. Stewart was extremely successful in a similar position at the Jacobs School, where the reputation and support for the engineering school increased significantly during her tenure. "We are excited to have a development professional of MaryAnn's caliber join our organization," said Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D., LIAI President & Scientific Director. "Her efforts had a tremendous impact on the Jacobs School of Engineering, which will benefit their faculty and students for years to come. We believe she will be equally successful at LIAI and will build broad-based philanthropic support for our disease-fighting research efforts."
Internationally recognized for its outstanding research programs, LIAI is San Diego's only nonprofit research institution focused on advancing progress toward understanding the immune system, with the goal of enhancing beneficial immune responses through vaccination and other efforts as well as preventing immune system disorders that affect millions, including allergies, and autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease.
Stewart said she looks forward with enthusiasm to her new role at LIAI. "While I will always cherish my years at the Jacobs School, I am ready for a new challenge and see immunology research as a perfect fit with my academic background. LIAI is conducting work of worldwide importance and is at a particularly exciting point in its history," she said, referring to LIAI's recent move to a new state-of-the-art research facility in UCSD's Science Research Park. LIAI is the first to locate in the Research Park, which is designed to encourage collaboration between private sector organizations and the University. "This will create a dynamic environment for idea exchange between LIAI's preeminent immunology researchers and UCSD's world renowned clinicians and research faculty," Stewart said. "This will undoubtedly serve as a catalyst to research breakthroughs and faster translation of LIAI's scientific findings into patient treatments and cures. It's a very exciting time to be part of the Institute."
Stewart has nearly 20 years experience in the academic fundraising
arena, having started as the director of trusts & bequests at Santa
Clara University in 1988. Recruited to UCSD in 1995, she served as
director of the Office of Planned Giving until 2000, when she became
executive director of external relations at the Jacobs School of
Engineering. Under her leadership, the Jacobs School exceeded its UCSD
Campaign goal by 25 percent. Among her many contributions, Stewart
helped expand the Jacobs School Scholars program, secured support for
the new Englekirk Structural Engineering Center and increased the
number of endowed faculty chairs from 14 to 25.
About LIAI
Founded in 1988, the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology is a
nonprofit medical research center dedicated to increasing knowledge and
improving human health through studies of the immune system. Scientists
at the institute carry out research searching for cures for cancer,
allergy and asthma, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases such
as diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis. LIAI's research
staff includes more than 100 Ph.Ds.
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