Vice President for Federal Relations and Director of Capital Campaign

Virgil E. Ecton has been appointed vice president for federal affairs. He will perform his duties in the university’s Washington, D.C. office.

Ecton is the former vice president for university advancement at Howard University. He steered The Campaign for Howard — the most ambitious fundraising endeavor in the history of the university to a successful conclusion, exceeding its $250 million goal by $25 million. Prior to his appointment at Howard, Ecton worked for the United Negro College Fund for three decades. As the senior executive vice president of development, he raised more than $1.6 billion during his tenure.

Ecton’s board memberships include: the Association of Fundraising Professionals, where he served as vice chair for nearly 10 years; the executive board of Boy Scouts of America (National Capital Area); and chair of the Howard University Alumni Board.

Ecton received a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University and a Master of Education degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition, he completed the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard University Business School in Boston, Mass.