Ryan Murphy named vice president for advancement at Nichols College

DUDLEY, Mass. – Ryan Murphy, a seasoned and successful fundraising professional, has been named vice president for advancement at Nichols College. He will begin his role on June 15.

“I am so thrilled to return to Nichols College, where I received a master’s degree back in 2010. I am truly excited to work alongside President Pieczynski, his cabinet and a talented veteran advancement team,” said Murphy. “I can’t wait to join the Herd and engage with Bison alumni, friends, families, students, trustees, faculty and staff while elevating philanthropy at Nichols to the next level. It is a privilege to join this exceptional community that is in the business of transforming students into leaders!”

Murphy joins Nichols from Anna Maria College, where he has served as vice president for advancement since 2023. In this role, he served as a member of the Presidential Cabinet and managed a staff of seven. Under his tenure, Anna Maria increased gifts to the Annual Operating Fund year over year, by 26% in his first year, by 300% to $1.5M in 2024-25 and by 430% to $6.5M thus far in 2025-26. Before his arrival, the AMC Annual Operating Fund’s highest amount raised was $560,000. Anna Maria also received a gift of $5M this past March, the largest gift ever to the college.

His strategic vision and collaborative efforts enabled the advancement team to raise $4.3M in capital funding for key projects, including the Miriam Nursing Building and related equipment, the St. Joseph Science Building, the Mental Health & Wellness Center and improvements to the college’s athletics facilities. Murphy also implemented a new database with more automation; collaborated with athletics to launch the AMCAT Challenge; and strengthened alumni engagement, stewardship and donor communications.

Prior to Anna Maria, Murphy served as major gift officer at the College of the Holy Cross from 2018 through 2023. He secured $5.5M during the 2022-23 fiscal year, including multiple seven-figure bequest intentions. His efforts enabled Holy Cross to establish more than 10 endowed financial aid and academic scholarships and create a $1M endowed scholarship for the football summer program—a distinctive student-athlete support initiative that contributed to the team’s six-year championship success from 2019-24.

Murphy also played an integral role in the college’s comprehensive $420M Become More Campaign and its $50M Hope and Access Campaign for student financial aid.

Prior to his work in fundraising, Murphy served in leadership roles of increasing responsibility in sales, operations, management and business development for national companies, including Cintas, Altria, MillerCoors and Chiquita.

Murphy earned a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Assumption University, where he played on the varsity soccer and tennis teams; a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Nichols College; and a Master Certificate in Applied Project Management from Villanova University.

An active community volunteer and sports coach, he received the Holden Good Neighbor Award in 2023. Murphy resides in Holden with his spouse, Allison, and their four children, Owen, Declan, Jack and Quinn.

“Ryan brings significant advancement experience, a proven record of securing multi-million-dollar gifts, and a passion for building meaningful and enduring relationships that strengthen the institutions he has served,” said Nichols President Bill Pieczynski. “Ryan is also a proud alumnus of our graduate school, and I am confident that his familiarity with, and dedication to, Nichols will be a tremendous asset as we seek to expand our fundraising efforts and pursue a bright future for the College.”