Krajewski, who will join Bowdoin on August 1, 2024, comes to the College from Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville, Virginia, where she has served as vice president for college advancement since 2018.
“Heather’s appointment follows a comprehensive nationwide search that yielded an impressive pool of candidates for this crucial position here at the College,” said Bowdoin College President Safa Zaki. “Her demonstrated ability to connect with others and to build trust and inspiration are directly aligned with Bowdoin’s culture and mission and set her apart as a candidate. I look forward to the work we’ll do together to engage our alumni and support the mission of the College.”
At Bowdoin, Krajewski will lead one of the most accomplished development and alumni relations teams in the country, managing a fifty-five-person staff and serving as a member of the College’s senior leadership team supporting the College’s priorities. She will also play a critical role in continuing to build and maintain strong ties with more than 23,600 Bowdoin alumni worldwide.
Reporting directly to President Zaki, Krajewski will be a key strategic leader and partner across the College in garnering the financial support and broad engagement of alumni, families, and friends of the College to propel Bowdoin to even greater success.
As chief development officer in her previous role, Krajewski consistently broke fundraising records, with annual cash results surpassing $30 million in each of the past three fiscal years, up from $10 million averaged yearly before her arrival. These results include year-over-year increases in support for the annual fund, including twenty-five percent growth from FY 2022 to FY 2023. This achievement was realized by developing and leading a highly professional team and building strong relationships within the Hampden-Sydney community.
Krajewski previously worked for more than thirteen years in various fundraising roles at the University of Richmond. From 2014 to 2018, she served as assistant vice president of advancement, overseeing day-to-day operations as the division’s chief operating officer. During that time, she helped plan and lead a targeted $150 million campaign, which would ultimately raise $172 million from 9,000 first-time donors and with nearly 300 first-time major gifts. Her prior experience includes development roles at the Library of Virginia Foundation and the University of Chicago.
Krajewski earned her bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Richmond. She succeeds Scott Meiklejohn, who had been serving as interim senior vice president for development and alumni relations.
