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GRAND RAPIDS ― Van Andel Institute (VAI) officials today announced the appointment of Love Collins, III as VP of Development effective immediately. Collins most recently worked at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, where he served as VP for Advancement since 2007.

With more than 20 years experience in a variety of industries including healthcare and research, Mr. Collins has a proven track record of successful outcomes in comprehensive fundraising,” said VAI Chairman & CEO David Van Andel. “He is a key component of VAI's efforts to enhance and expand all facets of our development program.”

Collins' career includes experience in the areas of capital campaigns, major gifts, planned giving, annual fund management, donor cultivation, stewardship and other development processes.

Previously, Collins served as a senior development officer managing fundraising operations for the College of Medicine, Cancer Center, and Hospital at Howard University. His background also includes executive-level fundraising positions at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Florida A&M University and Foundation, and Dillard University. Her served as Deputy Managing Director of Operations and International Fundraising for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and Director of Corporate Strategic Planning for BellSouth Corp.

Collins is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, and obtained an MBA degree from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. He also served five years as an infantry and airborne officer in the United States Army.

“I am very excited to begin the next phase of my career in Grand Rapids,” said Collins. “What the region, the Medical Mile, and the Institute in particular have accomplished in terms of reinventing West Michigan's future as a vital hub of biomedical research is a success story the rest of the country will be very interested to learn about.”

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• economic development
• grand rapids
• love collins iii
• van andel institute