Cheryl Bartholomy has been named executive director of development for cancer programs at UC Irvine.

Bartholomy will lead fund raising for the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, located at UCI Medical Center in Orange and affiliated with the UCI College of Medicine. Designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the center is one of only 38 facilities in the nation to attain this recognition and one of six institutions nationwide chosen by the NCI to test the effectiveness of promising new cancer prevention drugs.

"The Orange County community is fortunate to have a gem of a cancer care facility and research program right in its backyard," said Bartholomy. "As a fund-raiser, joining UCI is a wonderful opportunity to apply my experience, passion and keen interest in cancer research toward an institution at the forefront of significant biomedical advances, as well as in the areas of cancer treatment, early detection and, most importantly, prevention."

Bartholomy also will raise funds to support clinical studies, the Biomedical Research Center campaign and the College of Medicine. In addition, she will participate in the strategic planning for health sciences advancement and assist with UCI Medical Center's new hospital campaign.

"I am delighted to have Cheryl join our team," said Dr. Frank Meyskens Jr., director of the Chao center. "She will provide a wide range of support to the university, our cancer programs and particularly the cancer center."

Prior to joining UCI, Bartholomy served as West Coast associate vice president of development for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in Santa Monica, Calif., where she managed donor relations, assisted with strategic planning, and focused on major gifts and new market development. She also spent more than nine years with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, where she provided leadership for a $60 million capital campaign for construction of the new Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center, as well as launched and directed the Scott Hamilton CARES Initiative (Cancer Alliance for Research, Education and Survivorship) -- the high-profile charitable and education campaign of professional ice skater and Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton, himself a cancer survivor.

"Cheryl brings more than 12 years of experience in non-profit fund raising, mostly for health care and medical research organizations," said Tom Mitchell, vice chancellor of university advancement. "Her experience and proven success with both individual and corporate fund raising on behalf of cancer research and care will be an invaluable asset to UCI."

Bartholomy graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, with a bachelor's in business administration.

About the University of California, Irvine:
The University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked public university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with approximately 24,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,300 faculty members. The third-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $3 billion.