About the Honoree

Connie Kravas has worked in university advancement for more than 40 years, serving three universities during that time. A pioneer of the integrated advancement model, Kravas has led many successful fundraising campaigns, recently exceeding a $5 billion-dollar campaign goal at the University of Washington, two years ahead of schedule and at a pace that stands at the largest among public universities in the country.

Kravas has held numerous volunteer roles within CASE, including conference chair and faculty member, commissioner and district leader.

Throughout her career, Kravas has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the professional development of others around her. Her mentorship of emerging talent has resulted in more than 50 people currently holding leadership positions in university advancement offices around the country.

“One way to measure Connie’s impact on our profession is in the sheer number of higher education advancement leaders who have emerged from her time [at] Washington State University. Beyond WSU, her mentorship of hundreds of advancement professionals throughout her career and the resulting ripple effect of Connie's leadership across the country and around the globe are tremendous,” said Mike Goodwin, president and chief executive officer at the Oregon State University Foundation and past chair of the CASE Board of Trustees.

About the Award

The E. Burr Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals who have made a significant and lasting impact on the field of institutional advancement through their professional accomplishments. The award is named in honor of E. Burr Gibson, longtime chairman and CEO of the consulting firm Marts & Lundy, which has supported the award with a generous contribution. Gibson, who received the CASE Liftetime Achievement Award in 2008, died in 2010.