FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The National Defense University Foundation Announces Executive Team to Accelerate Mission Critical Support for the National Defense University
Michelle Buhr, Vice President of Advancement and Laurie Powers, Vice President of External Relations will expedite public – private partnerships for national security education and leadership development
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 4, 2021 – The National Defense University (NDU) Foundation today announced the formation of an executive team consisting of two non-profit and private industry experts, a significant step in accelerating the development of mission critical programmatic, funding, partnership, and resource support for the National Defense University.
Since joining in October 2019, NDU Foundation President and CEO, James Schmeling J.D. has been focused on transforming the organization. “Michelle Buhr’s experience in fundraising and development with premier educational institutions and non-profits like Yale University and the Smithsonian will enable the Foundation to provide world class advantages in support of the students and faculty of the National Defense University,” James Schmeling noted. “Laurie’s private sector marketing communications background in the areas of technology innovation, transformation, and partnerships make her ideally suited to lead our external relations efforts.”
Both professionals have deep expertise in building and accelerating partnerships that will be essential in the execution of the NDU Foundation’s version of the triple helix model of innovation - a set of interactions between academia, industry, and government to foster development and the knowledge economy.
Michelle Buhr joins the NDU Foundation with over 20 years of experience supporting nonprofit organizations with a concentration focused on higher education. Her experience in fundraising includes supporting the $3.5 billion Yale Tomorrow Campaign at Yale University, the quiet phase of the University of Houston for its $1 billion campaign, Here, We Go. She has also supported the fundraising goals of the Smithsonian Institution. Her most recent role was as the COO of Inbloom Consulting, a boutique firm specializing in campaign-driven fundraising. As an advancement professional, Michelle is an expert in capital campaign design and implementation; feasibility analysis; messaging and communications strategies; major gift development and donor stewardship.
In the role of Vice President of External Relations, Laurie Powers serves as a leader at the Foundation for corporate partnerships and other critical stakeholders with a primary focus on growing the NDUF brand and external audience engagement. Her experience includes board service and being executive director at the Government Business Executive Forum and stints at PwC, Verizon, and Deltek as a marketing officer and a product executive. She is building programs with our partners in business and industry, as well as think tanks, to benefit NDU students and faculty in furtherance of their national security education.
“Both Michelle Buhr and Laurie Powers have spearheaded several vital initiatives while supporting the NDU Foundation over the last 15 months” Board Chairman RADM Michael Manazir, USN (Ret.) stated. “Along with James Schmeling, Michelle and Laurie are leading efforts with the Defense Industrial Base, National Security Innovation Base, other key organizations, and experts to make a significant impact in NDU’s mission to develop leaders prepared to handle the Nation’s most difficult national security challenges in an increasingly unpredictable environment. Both Michelle and Laurie are dedicated to the advancement of national security leadership at National Defense University and I am delighted to work with them.”
Michelle and Laurie are also fiercely committed to supporting military families, spouses, and veterans. Michelle is married to an active-duty Army service member and Laurie is the spouse of a U.S. Navy Veteran. Both families have experienced the transformational impact of an advanced professional military education (PME) experience. Laurie and Michelle are dedicated to supporting NDU, its students, and their families through their work on behalf of the Foundation.
About the National Defense University (NDU) and NDU Foundation
The National Defense University (NDU) Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit philanthropic organization established to provide critical support to the National Defense University. The Foundation helps NDU provide a unique advantage against challenges by developing leaders prepared to handle the Nation’s most difficult national security challenges in an increasingly unpredictable environment. History has shown that the best way to safeguard the Nation’s interests is by educating and developing leaders who are prepared to think critically, strategically, and creatively to produce innovative and holistic solutions.
Under the direction of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, NDU is the nation’s preeminent higher education institution for advanced national security strategy and leadership development. NDU prepares selected civilian and military professionals from the U.S. and over 75 allied countries to serve as tomorrow’s decision and policy makers at the highest levels of command in the military, government, and private industry sectors. For more information, please visit NDU.edu and NDUFoundation.org
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If you would like more information about this topic, please call Laurie Powers at 703.362.0111, or email Powers@NDUFoundation.org.
Contact: Laurie Powers
Phone: 703.362.0111
Email: Powers@NDUFoundation.org