Karen Paciero
Vice President for Advancement
Karen Paciero joined Loyola as Vice President for Advancement in October 2019. As a member of the University Leadership Council, she works closely with the president, Loyola leadership, deans and faculty members as well as the Board of Trustees to advance the strategic philanthropic goals of the University. She has a successful record as a development professional facilitating significant investments and building strong and innovative partnerships with those who share the goals of advancing excellence in research, education, social justice, and patient care in a variety of settings. She began her professional life as a social worker, helping children and families navigate the juvenile justice, child protection, and social welfare systems. Prior to joining Loyola, Karen served as associate vice president for development at University of Chicago Medicine, where she helped realize innovative major gifts for research and patient care as well as developed university-community partnerships to address health disparities and trauma related to poverty and violence. Previously she served in a number of senior-level advancement positions with Feeding America, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Starfish Family Services in the Detroit metropolitan area.
Karen is a graduate of Michigan State University and earned her master’s degree in social work with a specialization in administration and policy from the University of Michigan. Her philosophy on philanthropy is centered on building a community of volunteers and supporters from diverse backgrounds to develop innovative ideas and practices for a common goal. She is passionate about the pivotal role philanthropy plays in enabling the University, and by extension our society, to solve complex problems, educate the country’s future leaders, provide the best and most advanced health care to our patients, and improve life for millions of people far into the future. Karen’s work at Loyola supports the University’s mission as a Jesuit, Catholic institution to expand knowledge in the service of humanity through learning, justice and faith.
Vice President for Advancement
Karen Paciero joined Loyola as Vice President for Advancement in October 2019. As a member of the University Leadership Council, she works closely with the president, Loyola leadership, deans and faculty members as well as the Board of Trustees to advance the strategic philanthropic goals of the University. She has a successful record as a development professional facilitating significant investments and building strong and innovative partnerships with those who share the goals of advancing excellence in research, education, social justice, and patient care in a variety of settings. She began her professional life as a social worker, helping children and families navigate the juvenile justice, child protection, and social welfare systems. Prior to joining Loyola, Karen served as associate vice president for development at University of Chicago Medicine, where she helped realize innovative major gifts for research and patient care as well as developed university-community partnerships to address health disparities and trauma related to poverty and violence. Previously she served in a number of senior-level advancement positions with Feeding America, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Starfish Family Services in the Detroit metropolitan area.
Karen is a graduate of Michigan State University and earned her master’s degree in social work with a specialization in administration and policy from the University of Michigan. Her philosophy on philanthropy is centered on building a community of volunteers and supporters from diverse backgrounds to develop innovative ideas and practices for a common goal. She is passionate about the pivotal role philanthropy plays in enabling the University, and by extension our society, to solve complex problems, educate the country’s future leaders, provide the best and most advanced health care to our patients, and improve life for millions of people far into the future. Karen’s work at Loyola supports the University’s mission as a Jesuit, Catholic institution to expand knowledge in the service of humanity through learning, justice and faith.