Michelle Dramé

Director of Development
School of Education

July 1, 2014

Joins School of Education as Director of Development

Michelle Dramé has been appointed Director of Development for the School of Education at UCI following a national search.

Ms. Dramé brings nearly 14 years of experience in public and private cause fundraising to her newly appointed position. She most recently served as Executive Director of Development and Senior Major Gifts Officer at William Paterson University, where she fundraised for all Colleges and campus-wide initiatives. In addition, she led her Development Office team by implementing new strategies, procedures, and policies that resulted in nearly a 90% success rate in writing grant proposals and gifts. Under her direct supervision, overall giving was increased by nearly 70% in less than three years.

Prior to that, Ms. Dramé served as the Coordinator of Alumni Relations at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania, and created highly strategic plans that re-engaged alumni to campus and increased giving by 15% in a short period of time. She was later promoted to Director of Corporate, Foundation, and Community Relations and served as a Major Gifts Officer where she was key in implementing a wide-range of institutional development plans culminating in significant record-breaking and historic increases in financial support for the university. This support included assisting in securing the largest first-time multi-million dollar alumni gift, successful first-time corporation and foundation grants, and student scholarships, and leading a highly successful paid internship program for students at leading corporations, as well as securing major private philanthropic and corporate gifts during a five-year capital campaign that produced over 30 high-end donor naming opportunities and the completion of a new 124,000 square feet science and technology center.

Prior to becoming a fundraiser, Ms. Dramé spent more than 10 years in the television production industry, including nine years as Production Supervisor for “The Price is Right”, for which she won an Emmy Award. In addition, she has received an Emmy Award nomination for her work on a WNBC-NY television network documentary. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading about history of any genre, and competing in 5K races to help raise scholarship funds for high school students entering college.

Ms. Dramé earned a Master’s Degree in Education with a focus in History from East Stroudsburg University, where she also taught Business Television Studio Production as an adjunct professor. She is a graduate of Montclair State University in New Jersey with a Bachelor’s Degree in English, and has studied English Literature and Journalism at Wroxton College in Oxfordshire, England, where she apprenticed for the Banbury Guardian as a newspaper writer.

Ms. Dramé is a member of the Honor Society, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). She is fluent in Spanish and French, and has lived and traveled in Europe and Africa.

In commenting on her new position, she communicates,

I am honored to be a part of Dean Deborah Vandell’s team of professionals in the School of Education. I understand the value of getting a good education and the need for continuous funding streams that support the needs of all aspiring students and faculty. My goal is to connect with those who have the inclination and capacity to support the University’s mission, strategic goals, and programs, to help continue to provide a high quality education to our students and offer ways for faculty to further conduct cutting-edge research that affects transformational change. Supporting these university initiatives will no doubt have far-reaching positive implications on the future of our society and global community.

To contact Ms. Dramé

  • Telephone: (949) 824-1962
  • Email: mdrame@uci.edu
  • Office: Education 3233

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