After 21 years at the helm, Shisler ’81 looks forward to new advisory role
Kirk Shisler ’81 wants to make one thing very clear: He’s not retiring. At least not anytime soon. After 21 years of faithfully serving his alma mater as its vice president for advancement, he’s simply switching gears.
This summer, Shisler will transition from his lofty perch as VP to a new position specially carved out for him that utilizes his unique qualities and strengths in a way that benefits EMU best. He said his new role as senior gift planning advisor will allow him to focus exclusively on securing major gifts to sustain EMU’s mission.
“We recently crossed the halfway point of EMU’s five-year, $40 million Forward Together campaign, and I am pleased to report that we have already raised $29 million, or 72% of the goal, which puts us ahead of schedule,” Shisler said. “I look forward to increasing our fundraising momentum even more as I assume my new role.”
Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus will formally announce the news of Shisler’s transition via email on Thursday, Jan. 22. With the announcement, EMU officially enters into a national search for its next vice president for advancement.
For several years now, Shisler said, he’s anticipated a transition like this one. By passing his administrative responsibilities on to a successor, he can directly focus his energies toward the aspects of advancement he enjoys most and where he will have the greatest impact. And, despite the various headwinds straining higher education, Shisler said he believes EMU is poised to transcend those challenges.
“We have a strong leadership team in place under Interim President Dycus, and a tremendous faculty and staff,” Shisler said. “EMU’s value proposition includes a proven track record for the employability of its graduates, who also benefit from an education that blends rigorous academics with soft skills in leadership, conflict resolution, and other skills needed to succeed in today’s work environment.”
‘An enduring imprint’
EMU’s presidents, past and present, commended Shisler for his effective fundraising, steadfast leadership, and deep commitment to the university over the past two decades.
Dycus, interim president of EMU since July 1, credited Shisler with “shaping a culture of generosity rooted in mission” and strengthening alumni and donor relationships. “Kirk’s steady, values-driven leadership will leave an enduring imprint on this institution and the countless students whose lives have been changed through his work,” she said.
Dr. Loren Swartzendruber ’76, MDiv ’79, president of EMU from 2003 to 2016, noted that he had recruited Shisler twice to EMU: first as an admissions counselor when Shisler was a high school senior, and later as president when Shisler was hired to lead the advancement division. “No university president can be successful without a person of Kirk’s caliber in that office,” said Swartzendruber. “His continuing efforts to attract leadership gifts will pay dividends for years to come.”
And President Emerita Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, who led the university from 2016 to 2025, expressed gratitude for the “enormous positive impact” Shisler had “year after year for 20 years without fail,” advancing EMU’s mission, supporting its students, contributing to its financial health, and ensuring its donors felt special and important.
“Without ‘Captain’ Kirk’s can-do spirit, relational genius, and organizational prowess, there is no first-ever EMU comprehensive campaign for people, programs, and facilities,” said Huxman, referencing the Forward Together (2023-28) campaign. “There is no audacious $40 million five-year goal, half of which we raised in just the first two years. This bold and successful campaign has been the crowning achievement of his great legacy in executive administration at EMU.”
Indeed, there have been many crowning achievements for Shisler over the years. Whether it’s the completion of EMU’s state-of-the-art track and field complex—regarded among the finest athletic facilities in the conference—the transformation of laboratories and classrooms in the Suter Science Center through a $12 million campaign (2007-15), or renovations to the south section of University Commons, he’s always kept his eyes squarely on the prize: ensuring EMU not only survives but also thrives long into the future.
Less visible, but just as impactful as those capital improvement projects, is the membership growth of EMU’s Jubilee Friend Society throughout his tenure. The group of alumni and donors name EMU in their estate plans, supporting the future financial stability and security of the school. “We have grown the society from roughly 150 members, when I arrived in 2005, to over 600 today,” Shisler said. “We often refer to these future gifts as EMU’s Book of Futures. The approximate future value of these estate commitments currently exceeds $35 million.”
Clockwise from top: Kirk Shisler, vice president for advancement, with Phil Helmuth and Graham Stauffer, during LovEMU Giving Day 2023. | The longtime advancement VP speaks during a gathering celebration at Homecoming and Family Weekend 2021. | Shisler accepts a hard hat from Braydon Hoover ’11, MA ’21, then-associate vice president for advancement at EMU, during a groundbreaking ceremony for the track in 2023.
Focus, patience, and tenacity
One key ingredient to Shisler’s success is the length of his tenure, which has allowed him to build close connections and enduring relationships with alumni and donors.
According to a report from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources, fundraising administrators have a median of five years of service in their position, slightly below the median for all higher ed administrative positions (5.5 years). Those figures are well below the 21-year span that Shisler has served at EMU.
During those 21 years, he estimated, working with advancement teams and the three aforementioned presidents, he helped raise about $120 million for EMU. Last year, thanks to a combination of generous donors and several large bequests, the university achieved its second-highest fundraising total on record.
“Those who have been involved in higher ed and nonprofit fundraising for as long as I have know that it takes significant focus, patience and tenacity to secure gifts of significance for our organizations,” Shisler said.
Doug Mason, an advancement consultant who has advised EMU’s team for 15 years as well as many other schools, said his most successful clients have leaders who “stick with it and really invest in the mission of their institution.”
“Donors really appreciate continuity,” Mason said. “Having somebody like Kirk, who’s been there for over two decades, is quite unusual, and it’s been extraordinarily beneficial to EMU.”
So why exactly has Shisler stayed for so long? He said the societal impact of EMU’s alumni around the world continues to motivate him and sustain his commitment to the university’s mission. He added that, through the years, he’s been blessed to be part of “highly motivated and supportive teams of advancement professionals,” and that he’s continually inspired by the dedication and high-quality work of EMU’s faculty and staff.
A seasoned fundraiser
Growing up in Telford, Pennsylvania, Shisler said his parents taught him at a young age the importance of giving generously and of tithing to the church. But it wasn’t until later, after entering the workforce, that he realized his skills in storytelling and communications could be used to fundraise for causes he cared about. The Dock Mennonite Academy alum graduated from EMU with a bachelor of arts in English in 1981. He then began a quarter-century career at Laubach Literacy International, a nonprofit now known as ProLiteracy.
| Kirk’s career, at a glance 1981: Shisler graduates from EMU The following positions were all held at Laubach Literacy International/ProLiteracy in Syracuse, New York •1981-83: Public Communications Editor (through a volunteer of Eastern Mennonite Missions) •1984-88: Director of Planned Giving •1989-99: Director of Fund Development •2000-05: Vice President of Fund Development Shisler is then hired by EMU President Loren Swartzendruber to lead EMU Advancement •2005-26: Vice President for Advancement Shisler transitions to his new role as senior gift planning advisor on July 1, 2026 |
In 2004, Swartzendruber called Shisler to ask whether he would be interested in the VP position, succeeding Richard L. Gunden. After an interview that summer, Shisler accepted the offer (he started in the position in April 2005). “Loren said to me, ‘Well, Kirk, you will have served Laubach for 23 years. I’m really hoping that you’ll give the same amount of time, or more, to EMU,’” Shisler recalled. “And here we are. With my transition to a different role, I may end up serving 23 years.”
As a result of his change, the avid fly fisherman said he’ll spend less time on the road and more time with his family—he and his wife, Mary Ann, have two sons, Ben and Andy. He’ll also spend less time in meetings as he devotes his focus entirely on working with major donors to design “charitable gifts of significance” for EMU.
Back when he was first hired at the university, Shisler told the late Jim Bishop, former public information officer for EMU, in a 2005 news article: “EMU is at a very exciting juncture in its history. I believe the school is truly a vehicle for healing and hope in our troubled world, and I look forward to joining the EMU community as, together, we advance its mission.”
Twenty-one years later, those words still ring true.
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