University Relations

Welcome to University Relations at Santa Clara University! 

Amy Yancey joins Santa Clara University as an accomplished higher education advancement leader with more than 20 years of experience building high-performing teams and helping institutions achieve ambitious goals through philanthropy. She is grateful to return to Jesuit, Catholic higher education and inspired by Santa Clara’s distinctive commitment to educating the whole person and preparing graduates to lead with purpose.

Throughout her career, Amy has been committed to connecting people with the mission and aspirations of the institutions they care deeply about. At Santa Clara, she brings that same commitment to advancing the University’s priorities, building a strong culture of philanthropy, and creating opportunities for alumni, donors, and partners to help shape SCU’s future. Her leadership is grounded in listening, collaboration, and a belief that when people are united by a shared purpose, philanthropy can be a powerful force for furthering academic excellence, student success, and meaningful impact.

Most recently, Amy served as president and CEO of the UConn Foundation, where she led fundraising, alumni engagement, and management of the endowment in support of the University of Connecticut and UConn Health. Previously, she served as vice president for development and acting senior vice president for advancement at Boston College and as associate vice president for development at the University of Virginia. Across these leadership roles, she has guided teams through the planning and implementation of comprehensive campaigns while building the relationships and organizational strength needed to achieve ambitious institutional goals.

Amy began her career in higher education at her alma mater, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in research policy. Before entering higher education philanthropy, she served as vice president for production at a Los Angeles-based technology start-up. Raised in Texas and Tennessee, Amy now lives in Santa Cruz, where her parents, daughter, and son-in-law have also joined her on the West Coast. A lifelong equestrian, she has a passion for playing polo and working with young horses, Amy has found a fitting home among the Broncos.

Read more about Amy Yancey’s appointment in SCU’s press release.