The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences is pleased to welcome Andy Gurd as its new chief advancement officer.
Gurd succeeds Chris Delisio, who has become assistant vice president for development for University Development.
“I am excited to begin my new role and lead the FAES advancement team,” Gurd said. “Autumn has magnificent events such as Farm Science Review, Homecoming and the celebration of the But For Ohio State Campaign’s completion. I look forward to these opportunities to meet more of our college alumni and friends.”
Alumni may be familiar with Gurd, who most recently served as associate vice president and chief operating officer of The Ohio State University Alumni Association. He had been with the association for nine years. Before that, he was vice president of sales and marketing for a regional IT consulting firm.
Furthermore, Gurd is no stranger to the college. He worked closely with Provost Bruce McPheron, Dean Lonnie King and Professor Casey Hoy on the Buckeye Summit, which focused on the issue of food insecurity. He also traveled to Morogoro, Tanzania on the college’s behalf to consult and teach on alumni relations and philanthropy at Sokoine University of Agriculture. In addition, he has met with CFAES students and leadership at a variety of college and university events.
A native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, he grew up in the Cleveland suburb of Bainbridge, Ohio.
Gurd earned his undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and was Academic-All-Big-Ten while starting at linebacker for the Buckeyes in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During those years he was presented with the John Nagy Award for The Outstanding Freshman Defensive Player and the Woody Hayes Award for the Outstanding Student Athlete, both from the Cleveland Alumni Club.
He has an MBA from Kent State University and a Masters of Business Operational Excellence with a Black Belt in Six Sigma from the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State.
Andy and his wife, whom he met at Ohio State, have three children and live in the Columbus suburb of New Albany.