Jacksonville University (JU) is pleased to announce Jonathan Meer as its new Vice President of University Advancement.
With more than 30 years of leadership and advancement experience, Meer has successfully executed multimillion-dollar campaigns for several prominent universities. He joins JU from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), the top-rated public college from Maine to Maryland. As Associate Vice President of Advancement, he helped produce two of the University’s best fundraising years and completed the planning and volunteer recruitment for the largest comprehensive campaign in TCNJ’s history.
Prior to his role at TCNJ, he led Development and Alumni Engagement efforts at Monmouth University, where he steered an 18-month scholarship campaign that exceeded its $12 million goal with $19.5 million in commitments. When a presidential transition in 2020 resulted in significant leadership turnover at the University, Meer assumed responsibility on a part-time basis for a $45 Million campaign for The Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music at Monmouth University.
From 2005 until 2015, Meer served as Vice President of Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. At Rider, he built and led a high-performing Advancement team that more than doubled the University’s annual fundraising yield. Under his watch, Rider initiated a spring Alumni Reunion program that regularly attracts several thousand alumni and guests to campus. He staffed the University’s Committee on Trustees and was responsible for identifying, cultivating and recruiting a talented and diverse cohort of volunteer leaders. He also conceptualized and oversaw all aspects of the University’s highly successful 18-month Sesquicentennial Celebration in 2015.
In 2000, he was named Vice President for University Advancement at University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, where he had full responsibility for all aspects of “Investing in Excellence,” a $200 Million comprehensive campaign. While the University’s previous campaign raised $75 Million, “Investing in Excellence” ultimately concluded with more than $330 Million in gifts and pledges.
A native of Brooklyn New York, Meer earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and American Studies from Williams College. Following his work for his alma mater as a Regional Director of Development on “The Third Century Campaign” (at the time the largest fundraising effort for a liberal arts institution in America), Meer worked in management-level development positions at Berkshire School and Whittier College.
Meer has presented at numerous regional CASE conferences and has volunteered with important civic and other not-for-profit organizations. He joins JU during a period of expansion and development, including the recent additions of the College of Law and newly-announced Medical School.
He will work closely with University leadership to ensure fundraising and outreach efforts effectively support JU’s rapid rate of growth.
