YSU Foundation chooses McFadden as president

Staff report

Youngstown

Youngstown State University Foundation trustees tapped the university’s chief development officer as the new foundation president.

Paul J. McFadden replaces Reid Schmutz, who is retiring at year’s end after 22 years.

“The trustees congratulate Mr. Schmutz on his 22 years of overseeing the steady growth [of the] foundation,” said Lee Burdman, chairman of the YSU Foundation Board of Trustees. “We welcome Mr. McFadden, who will continue the fine tradition of scholarship support for students on this campus.”

McFadden’s appointment as president is effective Jan. 1, but Ron Cole, YSU spokesman, said McFadden will leave his development post Dec. 1. Catherine Cala, director of development, has been named the interim chief development officer.

“I’m very fortunate that I will be able to overlap Mr. Schmutz for 30 days,” McFadden said. “My initial goal is just to immerse myself in Mr. Schmutz’s knowledge and institutional expertise and learn as much as I can.”

He said he’s looking into expanding planned-giving opportunities or endowments made through wills and bequests.

“I’m so honored and so excited,” McFadden said.

McFadden was selected after a national search. Schmutz said nearly 50 people applied, but he declined to divulge the names of the other finalists, who were selected by a search committee.

The YSU Foundation, founded in 1966, is a private, nonprofit foundation that supports YSU exclusively, mostly through scholarships for students.

The foundation, with assets of $180 million, funds 3,500 to 4,000 scholarships annually.

“It is an honor to receive this responsibility from the YSU Foundation Board of Trustees,” McFadden said. “It is a special honor to follow Reid Schmutz. I have followed Reid for almost 20 years as a colleague and a mentor. He has set the bar very high.”

Schmutz plans to remain in the area and likely will spend time volunteering.

“After 22 years, I’m of an age when maybe it’s time to get out,” Schmutz said. “I’ve seen people who stayed too long.”

McFadden was a star placekicker for the YSU Penguins football team in the early 1980s and went on to kick in the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons.

He was named All-Pro and NFC Rookie of the Year in 1984.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from YSU in 1991 and a master’s in philanthropy and development from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in 2000.

He’s served as YSU’s chief development officer for nine years.