April 19, 2006 -- from MSU News Service

Connie Talbott, the associate vice president for capital support and campaign director at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., has been named the new president and chief executive officer of the Montana State University Foundation.

Dan Barz, chairman of the MSU Foundation Board, announced Talbott's selection following a four-month, national search for a replacement for Dave Gibson, who retired in February. Talbott will begin her duties at MSU on June 5.

"Her valuable years of experience will be a great asset to the continued success of our foundation and Montana State University," Barz said.

MSU President Geoffrey Gamble said Talbott's experience and track record will help move the university and the foundation ahead to the next level.

"We look forward to a renewed partnership with the foundation and consequently have accorded Connie, through an affiliate appointment, the title of vice president for development," Gamble said.

Talbott said she is eager to begin working "with the dynamic and committed leadership of the foundation and the university."

"There are great things happening at MSU," Talbott said. "With the help of the students, faculty, alumni and friends, we will continue to spread the story of MSU's excellence in education, research and outreach and to build the private resources that are absolutely critical to continuing this success into the future."

As campaign director at Virginia Tech, Talbott collaborated with the vice president for development and university relations and the leadership team to plan, coordinate and implement the university's current $800 million campaign. She had supervisory authority for corporate and foundation relations, annual giving, and development communications. She coordinated administration, faculty and staff across the university.

In her duties as associate vice president for capital support, Talbott has been involved in Virginia Tech's university development program, which raised more than $76 million in cash and irrevocable pledges during the last fiscal year.

Virginia Tech, which is also a Land Grant institution, is located in southwestern Virginia and has 27,000 students and annual research expenditures of more than $280 million, placing it near the top 50 in public research universities. The Virginia Tech comprehensive campaign has raised $353.6 million since it began in July 2003.

Previously, Talbott served as the director of development for Virginia Tech's College of Arts and Sciences, which included 27 departments, more than 600 faculty members and 7,000 students. Gift income increased 33 percent over a two-year period during her tenure as director of development in the college.

Prior to entering the field of higher education, Talbott served as director of development, deputy director and finally executive director of the Virginia Museum of Natural History, succeeding Mick Hager, formerly from the Museum of the Rockies.

Talbott has also been executive director of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum in Cheyenne, Wyo., and has taught in high school and community colleges early in her career.

Talbott chaired both the Governor's Council on the Status of Women and the State Board of Youth and Family Services, to which the Governor of Virginia appointed her. He also appointed her to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Advisory Board. She also chaired various boards and raised money for everything from political campaigns to domestic violence shelters.

Talbott holds a bachelor's of science degree in history. Her graduate studies were in East European history and political science. She has been certified by the National Planned Giving Institute and the Association of Fund Raising Professionals and is a fellow of the Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia.

The MSU Foundation manages $107 million in assets for the university, providing support for scholarships, programs and university enhancement.

Contact: Rick Jackson (406) 994-2053