On Oct. 17, Dr. Katherine Fell announced her retirement at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. The end of her tenure will coincide with the anticipated end of the “Together We Will” capital campaign, one of two major fund-raising campaigns Fell helmed during her time in Findlay.
On Oct. 8, 2022, Fell launched the “Together We Will” capital campaign. With a $75 million goal, it is the largest in UF’s history. The news release from the University announcing Fell’s retirement notes that within this capital campaign, the University built the Joseph and Judith Conda STEAM Education Center and the Dick Strahm Champions Field. “A multi-million-dollar lead gift created the Watterson Center for Ethical Leadership, and $15.5 million has been given for student scholarships,” according to the release.
Beth Church, advancement communication strategist, confirms that as of Oct. 14, 2025, the amount raised was $73,973,205, which is 98.63% of the $75 million campaign goal. She expects UF will close the gap to the full $75 million by the end of the 2026 fiscal year. The campaign includes $20 million for annual operations support and $20.5 million for program support and other restricted projects.
Fell’s warm up to this groundbreaking capital campaign began shortly after she arrived at the University of Findlay in 2010 with the “Give Voice to Your Values” campaign. Launched publicly on Sept. 30, 2010, that campaign launched with a goal of $40 million in private support to fund capital projects for modern learning environments, endowment support and annual operations. In 2012-13, that $40 million goal was reached two years ahead of schedule, so the Board of Trustees extended the campaign goal to $50 million to include funds for a new College of Business and Student Life building. After ground was broken in 2016, the CBSL opened in 2017.
According to a Fall 2015 Findlay Magazine campaign review, the “Give Voice to Your Values” campaign raised $52.6 million by fall 2015. That total included more than $16 million to create 211 new endowed funds for scholarships, faculty development, student research and programming.
