Paul Sheff departs

VP for development and alumni relations assumes presidency of Catholic Memorial

Paul Sheff, the College’s vice president for development and alumni relations, has left his position to become the first lay president of Catholic Memorial School in West Roxbury, Mass. Sheff, who is a 1962 graduate of Catholic Memorial, served on the school’s board of directors from 2000-06.

Sheff arrived on campus in1998; under his leadership, Holy Cross concluded, in 2006, a record-breaking capital campaign, raising $216 million—far surpassing the campaign’s $175 million goal.

“In addition to the success of the Lift High the Cross campaign,” says Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., president of the College, “Paul increased average annual total cash from $12 million to $25 million. His work has galvanized alumni and friends of the College to even greater levels of support. After declining for several years, our participation rate is now above 53 percent—and alumni from the youngest classes are more engaged with the College than ever before.”

“My return to Catholic Memorial School is an extraordinary professional and personal opportunity,” says Sheff. “As a teenager, this school opened my eyes to the transformative power of education in a young man’s life. I am blessed now with the chance to open the eyes of so many more young people as we build together a vibrant academic faith community.”

Prior to arriving at Holy Cross, Sheff oversaw major gifts and capital gifts at Dartmouth College. He was a philosophy major at Catholic University. He later received a master’s degree in secondary education from Boston University.