On-campus interviews for the vice president of university advancement search continue today with Robert Martin’s visit.

An open session for the campus will take place at 4 p.m. in Room 4440 of Booth Library.

Martin currently serves as assistant vice president for development at Auburn University in Auburn, Ala. He has already outlined his basic goals for the position.

“I want to make it available to the best and brightest students in Illinois who want to go here,” Martin said.

His goals extend to fundraising as well. When President Bill Perry announced the title change, he said it was to emphasize the fundraising aspects of the position.

“I want to increase external support for the university by reaching out to alumni and friends of the university,” Martin said. “K-12 is where legislation give most of their money, and higher education needs more outside support.”

Martin has worked in different aspects of fundraising throughout his career, especially with large gifts and leading a fundraising team.

“I bring in a history of success; I have a track record like a coach who comes in and improves the team record,” Martin said. “I put together a group of volunteers who had never fundraised before, and they were incredibly successful.”

As director of major gifts at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, he increased giving by more than 200 percent. He also has experience in alumni relations, another of the position’s responsibilities.

“I work closely with our alumni association [at Auburn],” he said. “I want to see what direction Eastern’s alumni want their university to go in.”

The job duties aren’t the only aspect about the position that appealed to Martin.

“Small town, good athletic program, good students, it just seemed like it was tailor-made for me,” he said.

Sarah Ruholl can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected].