Wally Halas

Wally Halas is chief advancement officer of the University, responsible for all development and alumni relations functions and activities and the various offices and support services that comprise the Division for University Advancement.

Mr. Halas has more than 35 years of experience in fundraising and administration. Most recently, he was associate vice president for leadership gifts at St. John’s University in New York City, where he also oversaw the Office of Development and led the major gifts team on an interim basis. Mr. Halas also served in an interim role for the St. John’s School of Law as the executive director of development and alumni relations.

Prior to his position at St. John’s, Mr. Halas served as director of development-Northeast for Marquette University; assistant vice president for development at St. John’s; major gifts officer at Clark University; and commissioner of the Scholar-Athlete Games and chief operating officer of the Institute for International Sport at the University of Rhode Island.

Mr. Halas was the former head coach of men’s basketball at Columbia University and Clark University, where he also served as director of athletics and recreation. He has been selected to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, the Clark University Athletic Hall of Fame, Wakeman Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame, and was recognized in 2007 by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports as a Community Leader.

Mr. Halas holds a BA in political science and an MPA with a concentration in higher education from Clark University. He is a native of the Town of Fairfield and a graduate of Fairfield Prep.