Chad Thompson has joined the athletics department staff as the Coordinator of Athletics Annual Giving, announced Joe Impellizzeri, Assistant Director of Athletics for Development on Monday, July 21, 2008.

A native of Indiana, Thompson served the past three years as the Director of Annual Giving for Siena Heights University in Adrian, Mich. Under his leadership, the university met its annual fund goal for the first time in 2005. In 2007, the school raised a record $2.3 million. Thompson was responsible for restructuring the annual phone-a-thon, increasing pledges from $19,000 to $95,000. He oversaw fundraising projects ranging from the renovation of the science lecture hall, to the renovation of the athletics locker room. He has designed direct mail appeals and planned fundraising and donor stewardship events, including scholarship receptions and golf outings.

"I am pleased to announce that Chad Thompson will be joining our athletics staff," said Impellizzeri. "Chad brings a wealth of experience to Oakland, with a background in intercollegiate athletics and fundraising."

Thompson holds a bachelor's in communication studies from Vanderbilt University and a master's in sports management from the United States Sports Academy. He and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Berkley.