Reidy Appointed Executive Director of Partnerships

Veteran advancement leader returns to Sacred Heart to build external partnerships and expand academic opportunities for students

Key Highlights

• Sacred Heart University appointed William Reidy executive director of strategic partnerships & initiatives, a newly created role in the Provost’s Office
• Reidy will develop partnerships with employers, health care systems, nonprofits and government agencies to expand internships, clinical placements, and other experiential learning opportunities for students
• He will coordinate a University-wide strategy for connecting SHU’s external facilities and properties with academic programs and revenue opportunities
• Reidy previously served as Sacred Heart’s vice president of university advancement from 2014 to 2021

Sacred Heart University has appointed William Reidy as executive director of strategic partnerships & initiatives, a newly created role within the Provost’s Office. Reidy will lead the development of external partnerships and University-wide initiatives designed to expand academic and professional opportunities for students.

In this role, Reidy will serve as an adviser to the provost and a strategic resource for advancing institutional priorities. He will build relationships with businesses, nonprofit organizations, health care systems, government agencies, and other community partners, with a focus on creating internships, clinical placements, and other experiential learning opportunities for students. He will also oversee a university-wide strategy for integrating Sacred Heart’s external facilities and properties, including the SHU Community Theatre, the Great River Golf Club, the Discovery Science Center & Planetarium, and others into a coordinated portfolio of academic and revenue-generating assets.

Reidy returns to Sacred Heart after previously serving as vice president of University advancement from 2014 to 2021, a period during which SHU experienced rapid national growth.

Reidy has held senior advancement roles at the Culinary Institute of America, Come to Believe and, most recently, RiseBoro Community Partnership, where he served as vice president of advancement. He has also worked as a senior associate consultant at Graham-Pelton, advising nonprofit and higher education clients on campaign readiness and fundraising strategy. Earlier in his career, Reidy spent more than a decade in advancement roles with the New York Province of the Society of Jesus and Xavier High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the College of the Holy Cross.

Michael Larobina, SHU’s provost, said Reidy’s extensive experience in strategic partnerships, advancement, and higher education will be valuable as he takes on the new role.

“Bill brings a strong combination of strategic leadership, relationship-building, and experience across higher education and nonprofit organizations,” Larobina said. “His ability to develop meaningful partnerships and turn strategic priorities into opportunities for students and the University will be an important asset as we continue to expand this work.”

In a question-and-answer session, Reidy discussed his vision for the role, the importance of building strategic partnerships, and what attracted him to the position.

What drew you to the executive director, strategic partnerships & initiatives position at Sacred Heart University?

This is my second role at SHU, and returning was driven by both the opportunity to have a very different type of effect on the lives of students and faculty and the chance to work again with a leadership team that is focused on ongoing innovation. SHU is in the midst of ongoing and substantive growth, and being a part of a University that is always striving to grow and improve is exciting.

How would you describe the focus of your new role, and what are some of the key priorities you’ll be working on?

My role focuses on building partnerships that create meaningful opportunities for Sacred Heart students and strengthen the University’s connection to the organizations and communities around us. I’ll work across the University to identify where SHU’s academic strengths, facilities, and other resources align with real needs. A key priority is listening first. I want to understand what deans, employers, and community partners need as we consider and develop new initiatives. Partnerships that support experiential learning, internships, career pathways, and other opportunities that distinguish a Sacred Heart education are the goal.

Your role will involve developing strategic partnerships and advancing initiatives across the University. What opportunities are you most excited to explore?

I’m excited to explore partnerships that give students practical experience and a clearer path from the classroom into meaningful careers. That includes working with health care systems, employers, and the skilled trades, as well as finding ways to connect academic programs with the University’s facilities and community assets. I’m also interested in how SHU can serve its partners in tangible ways. For example, an affiliation could help employees pursue further education, give students access to internships and applied learning, and help organizations develop a stronger talent pipeline. The best opportunities will come from listening to partners and building something that meets a need on both sides.

How do you hope your previous experience in advancement, fundraising, and strategic planning will inform your work in this new position?

Advancement has taught me how to build trust, listen for what matters to people, and bring different interests together around a shared goal. Strategic planning has taught me to move from a promising idea to clear priorities, responsible partners, and measurable results. I’ll bring that approach to this role. A partnership should be grounded in a real need, fit the University’s strengths, and create value that people can see. It also needs sustained relationships and follow-through. My experience has shown me that those elements matter as much as the initial idea.

What are you most looking forward to as you begin this new role at Sacred Heart?

I’m looking forward to familiarizing myself once again with the people who make Sacred Heart distinctive: its students, faculty, staff, and partners. I want to learn how the University works, understand its priorities, and find ways to help good ideas move forward. I’m also excited by the chance to build relationships across the University and throughout Connecticut. Sacred Heart has strong academic programs and a meaningful presence in its community. I look forward to helping connect those strengths with opportunities that benefit students and the people and organizations around us.