Biosketch
Derek Berger serves as the associate vice chancellor for development where he partners with other senior campus leaders to achieve fundraising goals and donors to maximize the level of support for UMass Lowell. He is responsible for overseeing the planned, major, and annual giving efforts of the university and leading a team of dedicated professionals, including the respective Directors of Development for each school/college, major and leadership giving officers, and support staff.
Prior to joining the UML team, Derek served as vice president of fundraising at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana/Ivy Tech Foundation, where he led systemwide fundraising, supervised development staff, assisted with development strategic planning and served on campaign planning teams. During Derek’s tenure the Ivy Tech Foundation was recognized as the top fundraising community college foundation in the nation.
Prior to Ivy Tech, Derek served in a variety of roles at the Ball State University Foundation, including the associate vice president for development where he implemented and managed a major gifts program while serving as a senior major gifts fundraiser. During this period, Derek worked with a campaign team who was recognized by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) with a Circle of Excellence Silver Award for Principal or Major Giving Programs.
Derek earned a doctorate in Adult, Higher and Community Education from Ball State University where his research was recognized by CASE with the 2015 H.S. Warwick Research Award for Outstanding Research in Alumni Relations for Educational Advancement. He also earned his Master's of Arts in Students Affairs Administration in Higher Education from Ball State and his Bachelor's of Science in Secondary Education from Central Michigan University.