Seasoned advancement leader Nancy Felix will join IMD as its Chief Alumni and Development Officer, effective 14 April 2025. Felix joins IMD from Carnegie Mellon University in the US where she has most recently served as Associate Dean for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives at the Mellon College of Science. She will be a member of IMD’s Leadership Team, the institute’s most senior group of leaders, and will work closely with President David Bach, corporate partners, alumni communities, and the institute’s wider network.
“What truly excites me about IMD is the tangible impact and global reach of the faculty,” Felix said. “I feel inspired by the innovative work happening at IMD and I’m eager to collaborate with the talented alumni team and the entire IMD community. Together, I believe we can strengthen alumni engagement and build a world-class fundraising program to support IMD’s growth and global impact.”
With a rich background in leading alumni engagement and fundraising programs, Felix has held senior roles at Dartmouth College, where she served as the first international development professional, the US Olympic Committee, and the Rhodes Trust before joining Carnegie Mellon University in 2017. Across these varied institutions, Felix’s focus has been on building cultures of philanthropy and support within alumni communities.
“There is no world-class educational institution without an active, engaged, and committed alumni community. Nancy’s expertise and dedication will be crucial in strengthening our alumni network and driving our development initiatives forward,” said Bach. “We’re excited to have attracted someone of her caliber to Lausanne to broaden and deepen our impact.”
“Alumni giving back to the institution is critical for the next phase of IMD’s development,” said Woods Staton, MBA ’76, who chairs the Development Committee of IMD’s Supervisory Board. “My MBA year at IMD was transformative, and in today’s fragmented world, education is the key to nurturing values-based business leaders. The board is excited to work with Nancy to create a program tailored for IMD, fostering a culture of giving.”
“I was always taught the importance of philanthropy from a cross-cultural perspective, which has fostered my deep interest in how different cultures approach philanthropy, giving, and legacy,” Felix said.
At Carnegie Mellon, Felix has been managing a team of development officers, secured multiple sizable donations, oversaw class- and reunion giving, led innovation initiatives, and partnered with successive deans to drive major strategic priorities.
She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Cornell University.
