Press Release

Westminster’s Peter A. Rooney named VP for Development and Alumni Relations at Oglethorpe University

ATLANTA – Peter A. Rooney has been named Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at Oglethorpe University, a highly selective liberal arts college. His appointment at Oglethorpe begins April 1. For the past 15 years, Rooney has been at The Westminster Schools, one of the nation’s premiere college preparatory schools, also in Atlanta. As Director of Development and Director of Principal Gifts at Westminster, his successes included the completion of a $75 million comprehensive campaign.

Rooney replaces Dr. Victoria Weiss who, after three years in the position, has decided to return to the classroom. Dr. Weiss, Professor of English, has been a member of the Oglethorpe faculty since 1977.

In making the announcement, Oglethorpe University President Dr. Larry D. Large said, "I am pleased to have someone of Peter’s experience and success in fundraising be a part of Oglethorpe University. Peter’s appointment will strengthen Oglethorpe’s relationship with the Atlanta community, which has been one of my goals since my appointment as president over five years ago."

Rooney graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis in 1984 and held several positions with the college’s development office — including Director of Major Gifts — until 1988. He worked briefly with a real estate partnership in Memphis until returning to Atlanta and his current position at Westminster, his high school alma mater, in 1989.

The development program at Westminster has been recognized as a "Circle of Excellence" winner twice in the last eight years. The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) makes this award nationally to about two dozen schools, colleges and universities per year.

"I worked with a great team and strong faculty at Westminster and look forward to doing the same at Oglethorpe," Rooney said. "Oglethorpe has always been a very strong institution and important to Atlanta, but I hope we can strengthen it and make it even greater. If we were to boost the annual giving and the participation from alumni and friends, if we are successful in growing the endowment, then an already great academic program and faculty will be able to do even more for students. The strength of the faculty and their dedication to the students were real motivating factors for me."

Rooney is the third vice president appointed within a year and will report to Large. "Peter fills an important role on the leadership team and will make it possible for us to increase the momentum we’ve gathered in the last several months on the fundraising front."

David Rhodes, Vice President for Enrollment, and Tim Doyle, Vice President for Student Affairs, are the other recent appointees.

Warren Y. Jobe, chair of the board of trustees said, "The board recognizes the importance of this position and, following a national search, we were pleased to have found such a qualified candidate right here in Peter Rooney. He has deep roots in the metro area, and many of my colleagues on the board have known Peter in his many roles in this community. He will be warmly welcomed at Oglethorpe."

Rooney is a member of Northside United Methodist Church, serves on the boards of the Trinity Community Ministries, the Buckhead Business Association and CASE District III. He is a member of the Commerce Club and Leadership Georgia, Class of 2004. He volunteered for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. His Olympic volunteer work has continued, nationally, for the 2002 Salt Lake City Games and, internationally, for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Rooney and his wife Elizabeth Lockerman Rooney, also an Atlanta native, have two children, Mason and Peter.

Oglethorpe University, founded in 1835, has a total enrollment of 1,033. Its students represent 36 states and 21 countries. The average SAT score is 1200, and 43 percent of the freshmen graduated in the top ten percent of their high school classes. Oglethorpe University plays in the NCAA Division III Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. Oglethorpe University is a member of the Annapolis Group, an organization of America’s most selective 100 liberal arts institutions, the only such institution in Georgia that is co-educational.

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