Sara E. Rubin

Sara Rubin is at her best in the thick of the action. This served her well in her years as a theatrical stage manager, coordinating creative professionals across disciplines, as they traveled the country never knowing what new challenges awaited at their next venue.

Attention to detail while keeping an eye on the big picture remains Sara’s mission now, as Vice President for Development at The Ohio State University, with responsibilities for overseeing many facets of the development enterprise including fundraising in all University and Health Science Colleges and The Wexner Medical Center.

“On any day, our team is producing multiple events across the university, while working intimately with individual donors to help them realize their dreams and fuel their passions.”

Sara wouldn’t have it any other way. She thrives while managing opportunities, driving creative visions and supporting team members. A thousand exciting things happen at Ohio State every day, and the development team has a role to play in nearly all of them. 

The team’s work provides resources for advanced research, world-class medical facilities, and endowed chairs and professorships that attract premier academic talent. They work with alumni and friends to imagine the impossible, and ensure every qualified student has the opportunity to attend Ohio State regardless of their financial status. Sara sets the pace for her team, insisting there are no small tasks in university development, especially at a Land Grant institution with the reach and impact of Ohio State.

That ability to make an impact is what drew Sara to the profession. Her first job in development was as a secretary for the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University Medicine. From there, she set out to learn the ins and outs of academic development, rising into leadership roles across the university. Johns Hopkins is also where she first collaborated with Mike Eicher, the Senior VP of External Affairs at Ohio State. 

Sara went on to serve as Assistant Vice President at Cornell University, with oversight of fundraising for libraries, athletics, the Johnson Museum, and student and academic services. She followed that with a stint as Assistant Dean for Development and Alumni Relations at New York University School of Law, before being lured to Columbus to reunite with Mike Eicher at Ohio State.

“New York is one of my favorite places in the world, but I’ve made a lot of great memories here in Columbus,” she says. “The Buckeye family is something special, and to play a role in advancing the growth and reach of these incredible institutions is an honor.”

Sara was pivotal in the university’s record-shattering fundraising effort: Time & Change, the Ohio State Campaign, which pooled the resources of more than 800,000 individual donors to raise in excess of $5.4 billion. A campaign that size encompasses hundreds of unique voices from every department and unit, and the stage manager in Sara felt right at home amid the cacophony.

“In theatre, I was taught that lowering a curtain at the exact right moment every night might seem like a little thing, but little things make the difference between a flop and a hit. The same is true here, where attention to a multitude of details and commitment to the greater good go hand-in-hand. That’s why I love this job and this place.”

Of course no success is achieved alone, and development, like theatre, depends on collaboration and teamwork. “I am powerless without my team,” Rubin insists. “Their commitment and creativity are awe-inspiring. They are what make my position a joy.”