FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Oscar V. Fornoles of Trumbull has been named director of Prospect Research at Sacred Heart University.

A key member of the Division of University Advancement responsible for increasing philanthropic support to SHU, Fornoles will lead efforts to create systems needed to best identify and reach out to potential donors, including individuals, corporations and foundations. He'll also take a lead role in identifying new fundraising prospects and providing the information needed to most effectively pursue and approach them to Advancement colleagues, President’s office staff, key volunteers and others at SHU.

A graduate of California State University at Northridge, Fornoles held a similar position at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, where he oversaw and conducted research that supported a $500 million advancement campaign. He also managed and oversaw prospect research at the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Washington D.C.; the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Foundation; and California Lutheran University.

Fornoles said Sacred Heart’s reputation for encouraging students’ intellectual and spiritual growth and social responsibility drew him to the school.

“Sacred Heart is known for preparing students not just for careers, but for life – and that was attractive to me,” Fornoles said. “I also wanted to work for an organization that impacts the local community, particularly with higher education.”

He said his immediate priorities include establishing a more solid prospect research and management system, identifying new donors for major gifts and performing any other work that will help the University meet its fundraising goals.

“There are so many reasons to invest in higher education,” Fornoles added. “I'm excited to help make it happen. Giving to SHU leads to so much more than improved buildings, programs or services. It leads to improved communities, futures and lives.”

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About Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University, the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, offers more than 50 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its main campus in Fairfield, Connecticut, and satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland. More than 6,000 students attend the University’s five colleges: Arts & Sciences; Health Professions; University College; the AACSB-accredited John F. (Jack) Welch College of Business; and the NCATE-accredited Isabelle Farrington College of Education. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its guides “Best 376 Colleges – 2012 Edition,” “Best in the Northeast” and “Best 294 Business Schools – 2012 Edition.” U.S. News & World Report ranks SHU among the best master’s universities in the North in its annual “America’s Best Colleges” publication. As one of just 23 institutions nationally, SHU is a member of the Association of American Colleges & Universities’ (AAC&U) Core Commitments Leadership Consortium, in recognition of its core, “The Human Journey.” SHU fields 31 division I athletic teams, and has an award-winning program of community service. www.sacredheart.edu

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