Faber appointed chief development officer for Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Michael Faber, a skilled and adaptable fundraiser with a substantial background in advancement roles at prestigious research institutions, has been appointed as the new associate vice president and dean of development for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

In a communication to the FAS community on Tuesday, Hopi Hoekstra, Edgerley Family Dean of the FAS, along with James Husson, vice president for University alumni affairs and development, recognized Faber’s “remarkable history of promoting institutional objectives and directing multibillion-dollar comprehensive campaigns.”

Beginning Aug. 25, Faber will spearhead FAS’s development initiatives, managing fundraising strategies and implementation aligned with FAS academic goals. His responsibilities will encompass principal gifts, major donations, the Harvard College Fund, gift planning, stewardship, reunion contributions, development communications, and volunteer involvement.

As an associate vice president, Faber will collaborate with the alumni affairs and development leadership team to formulate and execute University development strategies.

“I am delighted to welcome Michael to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences,” Hoekstra stated. “His outstanding history in securing transformative support — particularly for research — will be essential as we seek innovative ways to assist our faculty and students in a swiftly evolving higher education environment. I am confident he will be a significant asset to the FAS leadership team and the broader community.”

Faber makes his return to Harvard with profound ties to the University community and its mission, having previously engaged in fundraising roles where he collaborated with development teams and senior faculty across Harvard’s Schools — including FAS, Harvard Medical School, and the School of Public Health (now the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health).

Currently, Faber serves as vice president for medical and health sciences advancement at Ohio State University, overseeing development teams for seven colleges and numerous research institutes that generate over $300 million annually.

Previously, Faber led fundraising initiatives at the University of California, San Francisco, as associate vice chancellor of development & alumni relations and worked as an advisor in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology president’s office under then-President Susan Hockfield.

“Michael brings unparalleled experience and understanding to this pivotal position,” said Husson. “He rejoins Harvard equipped with exceptionally relevant skills, refined at the highest levels of the nation’s leading fundraising organizations. His proven capability to collaborate across disciplines, coupled with his deep roots at Harvard, will enhance our entire leadership team. I’m eager to partner with Michael as we strive to promote Harvard’s academic and societal mission in the forthcoming years.”

Throughout his career, Faber has engaged in strategies for innovative donor involvement, maximizing principal and planned contributions, planning multibillion-dollar campaigns, and developing complex proposals for collaborative, interdisciplinary research projects.

“I am honored to return to Harvard at this significant moment for higher education,” Faber remarked. “Now is a crucial time to advocate for philanthropic support to strengthen its excellence for future generations. I am thankful to Dean Hoekstra and Jim Husson for this chance to contribute to Harvard’s mission.”

Faber obtained his degree from Rhodes College and earned a master’s in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. His wife, Kate, is a biotech professional and clinical researcher whom he met while residing in Harvard Square. Together they are parents to three children: Oliver, 13, Eleanor, 10, and Phineas, 6.