Vita Pickrum, Ed. D, CFRE

Dr. Vita Pickrum joined Delaware State University in 2008 and has held various leadership positions since then. She serves as the Vice President of the Division of Institutional Advancement and the President of the Delaware State University Foundation. Under her leadership, private fundraising and alumni participation have reached historic numbers.

Dr. Pickrum has established strategic public and private partnerships that have yielded significant financial support for the University.

Dr. Pickrum’s commitment to student success is evident in founding the HBCU (Historically Black College and University) Philanthropy Symposium – now in its 14th year and drawing public and private HBCUs at each convening. This annual convening of universities, community colleges, and minority-serving institutions is a beacon of hope, focusing on institutional transformation and sustainability.

In 2021, Dr. Pickrum received the prestigious National 2021 Council for the Advancement and Support of Education Commonfund College and University Foundation Award. In 2020, Dr. Pickrum was appointed to the Association of Governing Boards’ Council of Foundation Leaders. Also, that year, Dr. Pickrum was elected Vice-Chair of the newly established CASE National Committee on College and University Foundations – representing over seven hundred universities and community colleges – and was appointed Chair on July 2, 2022. In 2018, Dr. Pickrum was appointed to the CASE Board of Trustees for a three-year term and received the 2018 Professional of the Year Award from CASE, District II, out of 1,200 Advancement professionals. Dr Pickrum serves on other Boards for the community at large, such as the Delaware Community Foundation, Delaware Alliance of Non-Profit Agencies, and the Blue Cross Highmark Healthy Communities Advisory Board.

Dr. Pickrum’s educational background is a testament to her expertise. She has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Delaware State University, a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree from Howard University, and several certificates of achievement.