The energy and growth at Chesapeake College lured Lucie Hughes away from hustle and bustle of Philadelphia. The Hebron native was the vice president for advancement at the city’s University of the Arts when she was presented with the opportunity to become a new vice president at Chesapeake. She’s traded the bright lights and action of Philly for the Shore’s fields and marshes, where she feels like she has come home.
"After I visited for my interviews, met with the team and learned about the Chesapeake vision, I knew that I wanted to be here," Hughes said. "There’s so much happening here. Everyone here is optimistic and working for the same goals. When you’re at Chesapeake, you feel like you are part of the future."
Prior to joining the administration at U. Arts, Hughes was associate vice president for development and alumni relations at Maryland Institute College of the Arts. She held a similar position at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and later was a vice president at Brakeley Briscoe, Inc. Consulting.
A graduate of Washington College, Hughes earned her master’s degree in management from the College of Notre Dame. She came to Chesapeake with more than 25 years of experience in leading fundraising, public relations, legislative outreach, marketing, budget planning, alumni development, special events management and strategic planning.
As vice president of the new Division for Institutional Advancement, Hughes will use all of those skills to lead the fundraising and communications teams at Chesapeake. Previously, the two departments were housed in different divisions.
"Development and communications are interrelated. Our goal is to raise awareness of all that Chesapeake College does, and to help the community feel connected to us and support all that we do," Hughes said. "Chesapeake is one of this region’s most important assets on so many levels. Our impact is not just educational; but also economic, cultural, and social. This college offers something to every person on the Eastern Shore. "
Hughes spent her early weeks on the job going out into the five-county area meeting with variety of people. "It seems that every person I meet with has some personal story about Chesapeake. My goal is to build on those connections to expand the community’s engagement with Chesapeake," Hughes said.
Hughes now resides in Easton, but visits each of the other four service counties each week.