Randolph-Macon’s long-serving Vice President for Advancement has announced her retirement, with plans to transition out of her full-time role in September 2025 and retire in September 2026. Diane Lowder will move to a part-time advisory role next fall to facilitate Dr. Michael Hill’s early work with donors, alumni, and friends as he begins as Randolph-Macon’s 16th president, as well as assist in onboarding her successor. 

When she steps away from her full-time work, Lowder will conclude nearly 19 years of service to Randolph-Macon and a 29-year career in higher education philanthropy. She supervised the Office of College Advancement, which includes the offices of Development, Alumni Relations, and Events Management. Over her tenure at Randolph-Macon, which began in 2007 exactly one year after President Robert R. Lindgren’s, she was, in Lindgren’s words, “instrumental in virtually every major gift, totaling more than $245M. Lowder was also key to planning, staffing, and supporting the College’s $125M Building Extraordinary campaign which ran from 2008 to 2015.” That campaign, and the fund raising that followed, supported 17 capital improvement projects over her time at RMC, including many that were associated with new programs initiated by the 2017 Brock Venture Fund. 

“While Diane and I have been discussing her retirement plans for several years, I am deeply grateful that she agreed to continue our wonderful partnership through my retirement, and to assist in the transition for Dr. Hill,” said President Lindgren. “I cannot overstate the consequential impact she has had on RMC’s success for virtually the entirety of my presidency. I so admire her success in fund raising and the depth of her connections to alumni, parents, friends, as well as the wonderful team she has built.” 

Lowder’s recruitment of talented individuals throughout the Advancement team helped inspire unprecedented alumni loyalty during her tenure. RMC’s annual giving alumni participation rates have placed the College in the top 1% of all colleges and universities in the U.S. over the past 10 years.

“It has been a true privilege. The passion and pride of the College’s alumni, friends, and broader community are unparalleled, and it has been deeply rewarding to help channel that generosity and dedication in support of this special place,” Lowder commented. “I will truly treasure the many meaningful relationships I have made over the years.”

Lowder served on numerous committees at RMC and in the community and earned a Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Administrator Award, the College’s highest honor, in 2016 for her significant contributions to the College. In 2023, she was honored as CASE District III’s 2023 Mentor of the Year.

A native of Hopewell, Va., Lowder earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and her law degree from the University of Richmond in 1984 and 1987, respectively, where she was also a UR Hall of Fame swimmer. She started her career in the practice of law for nine years with the Richmond firm of McGuire Woods, where she concentrated in estate planning and tax work. 

In 1997, she left law for higher education at the University of Richmond, where she served as director of Planned Giving and Interim Director of Development. While at UR, contributions under her leadership increased by $30 million in new planned gifts, and the university received an additional $20 million in estate distributions. 

President-elect Hill will have the opportunity to name RMC’s next Vice President for Advancement following his assumption of the RMC presidency on August 1.