December 21, 2004
Tribune
Staff Report
CULVER - Ruth Benner Hix is back home again.
And she's going to head up a multimillion-dollar fund-raising effort at her alma mater.
Hix, a 1968 graduate of Culver Military Academy, has returned to Culver
Academies as the chief development officer, Head of School John N. Buxton
announced.
Hix is the daughter of the late Myron E. Benner, who retired in 1979 after 33 years with the Academies. Her mother, Ruth, a Culver resident, was CMA's first female instructor during the 1959-60 academic year and was a math department chairman at Plymouth High School.
"The planets are aligned," Hix said, explaining her return to Culver as the school launches "By Example: The Campaign for Culver," a four-year, $200 million capital campaign.
"I was ready for a new campaign, but I never dreamed it would be with my alma mater. I want to be here for this."
Hix's 25 years of institutional advancement experience include coordinating and managing capital campaigns, fund raising, major gift development, institutional planning, alumni relations, public relations and publications.
Since 1995, she has served as the vice president of institutional advancement for Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo., where she headed a successful $32 million capital campaign.
Hix helped ensure funding for a $15 million student center while alumni participation increased from 14 percent to 25 percent.
"I am especially excited about Ruth's return to Culver to accept the responsibility of running our development operations," Buxton said. "There could not be a more important time for Culver as we begin the public phase of our 'By Example' campaign, and there could not be a better person for the job."
Hix also has served as the vice president for advancement at Albright College in Reading, Pa., from 1993 to 1995, and director of development and major gifts for Bradford College in Haverhill, Mass., from 1989 to 1993. Earlier, Hix spent six years at Boston University as a director of foundation relations, a director of planned giving and as a development writer.
She received her bachelor's degree from Wellesley College in 1972 and has a master's degree in teaching from Colgate University.
Hix resides in Culver with her husband, Robert.