College welcomes new development director

For Anthonie Burke, the choice to join the Michigan State University College of Nursing as its new development director was an easy one.

With a wife who is a nurse anesthetist and two daughters who earned nursing degrees, he is familiar with the difficulties and successes associated with nursing. He hopes that background will come in handy in his new role.

“I am thrilled to be joining the team at the College of Nursing,” Burke said. “I look forward to contributing to the team's success, learning from all of my new colleagues and building great new relationships.”

Burke comes from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan where he was the director of philanthropy for the School of Engineering and Computer Science the past seven years. During his time, he averaged an annual increase of 18 percent overall giving and worked to cultivate and steward relationships with major donors, resulting in $3 million in endowment contributions and scholarships.

He has other healthcare-related experience as well, having previously served as executive director of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Michigan chapter, where he oversaw its budget and was responsible for development of education, support and advocacy across Michigan and northwest Ohio. In addition, Burke once worked with the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Dean Leigh Small said Burke is going to fit in well at the college.

“Anthonie will bring warmth and a great personality to the role, which are vital in building relationships with our alumni and donor base,” Small said. “I look forward to working with him on strategically identifying ways to move the college forward through philanthropy and planned giving.”

Burke’s first day is April 29.