Patricia Watson '83, Cornell's senior associate vice president of alumni affairs and development, has been named senior vice president for university advancement at Brown University. She will begin the position Dec. 1.

Watson is a graduate of Cornell's College of Human Ecology and has worked for Cornell's Division for Alumni Affairs and Development since 2004.

"Brown has found one of the best development professionals in the country to lead their operation," said Charles Phlegar, Cornell's vice president for alumni affairs and development.

Watson first joined Cornell as director for college and unit alumni affairs and development. Beginning in 2008, she led a massive reorganization of the division into a hybrid structure that positioned Cornell to maximize its fundraising and engagement potential. "We invested in this model in order to sustain a steady stream of private support of the university," Watson said. "It's a model that's going to serve the purpose for today but also provide a foundation for the next generation of leadership."

In 2010 she was named senior associate vice president of alumni affairs and development, managing the division's operations and overseeing major gifts; the Cornell Annual Fund; trusts, estates and gift planning; development services, corporate and foundation relations; and the "Cornell Now -- 2015" comprehensive campaign. She led the expansion of the division's New York City office and, most recently, a renewed commitment to the West Coast region.

Watson said that she has enjoyed a gratifying relationship with Cornell, not only as a student, alumna and administrator, but also as a parent: Her daughter, Halle Watson Grace, graduated from the College of Architecture, Art and Planning in 2002.

The most meaningful part of her eight-year career at Cornell, Watson said, has been to hire more than 70 people and to shape a program that allows Cornell to "raise money and to engage alumni, parents and friends way beyond the 'Cornell Now' campaign."

Watson said the "hallmark of my work at Cornell has been to integrate the three pillars of this profession: engagement, fundraising and advancement services. Our program is solid and has so much bench strength," she said.

"Pat has been fantastic and a critical part of our success," Phlegar said. "She will be sorely missed, but I couldn't be happier for her." Plans have not yet been made about the future of Watson's position.

At Brown, Watson will be joining the administration of President Christina Paxson, who replaced Ruth Simmons in July 2012. She will develop strategic priorities and oversee activities in key advancement areas across the university, including the alumni relations and international advancement offices, and advancement for athletics, financial aid and the Alpert Medical School.

"I'll always have Cornell in my heart because I'm an alum, and a parent, forever," Watson said.