Hodan Hassan, a veteran fundraising executive with more than 25 years of experience serving higher education institutions and global humanitarian organizations, has joined the staff of Morehouse College as the new Vice President of the Office of Institutional Advancement and Chief Advancement Officer.
In her new role, Hassan will build national philanthropic support and lead the fundraising strategy and execution of the historic $500 million “Making Men of Consequence” Campaign for Morehouse College. Launched formally in February 2022, the campaign was developed to drive investment in student scholarships, faculty research and recruitment, campus construction, and the expansion of innovative academic programs and technology at Morehouse College. The campaign has raised nearly $232 million to date.
Hassan comes to Morehouse with a strong track record of success in helping universities and major nonprofits achieve their philanthropic goals. Hassan played an integral role in planning and contributing to the fundraising efforts for the University of Washington’s $2.7 billion campaign, Arizona State University’s $1 billion campaign, and Long Island University’s $175 million campaign. And as a development executive in the global nonprofit sector, Hassan was instrumental in fundraising UNICEF’s “Schools for Africa” campaign, which was launched in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and resulted in over $200 million from donors worldwide.
She most recently served as Assistant Dean of Advancement for the College of Arts and Sciences, the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook, where she led a team of fundraisers dedicated to closing major gifts since 2019. Hassan joined the University in April 2016 as chief development strategist for the Global Health Institute and Centre ValBio in Madagascar where she raised significant funds for innovative emerging technologies, discoveries, advancing biodiversity research, and improving human health. She helped the campus to complete its $670 million fundraising campaign, which exceeded its target by $70 million.
“Hodan Hassan is a global fundraising strategist and a trusted philanthropic advisor who has an outstanding reputation for collaborative problem-solving. She has an exceptional track record for creating and executing successful campaigns that provide transformative resources for the institutions and organizations that she has served,” said David A. Thomas, Ph.D., President of Morehouse College. “I am confident that she will serve Morehouse College well as we elevate our efforts to drive investment in scholarships, academic programs, and building the campus of the future.”
Hassan began her new role at Morehouse College on June 1.
“I am honored to join Morehouse College and have long admired its legacy of producing notable Black men who lead lives of leadership and service,” said Hassan. “The college’s focus on excellence and social justice aligns with my beliefs and values. I am eager to contribute to its inspiring vision of shaping the leaders of tomorrow.”
A versatile fundraising professional, Hassan has worked in all areas of higher education advancement, from directing prospect development to managing development services and stewardship. She is also skilled in computer coding languages and has designed and implemented technical systems to manage and evaluate donor engagement in the institutions that she has served.
In addition to her career in higher education, Hassan has led the programmatic and fundraising initiatives of global charities for nearly a decade. She served at Save the Children as associate vice president of program funding and prospect development and at UNICEF USA as a managing director of program funding and strategy.
Hassan demonstrates her personal commitment to academics by currently completing her Ph.D. in technology, policy, and innovation at Stony Brook University. She holds a Master of Science degree in math education and applied mathematics from Long Island University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and physics from Long Island University. Hassan has served as a long-time board member, thought leader, and speaker for Apra. She is also a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).