What qualities do you expect to see in a highly effective leader?

They have got to be able to make the hard decisions and to the lead their organization sometimes through the hard decisions. Recently of course in the economy in the last couple of years, we have seen that. Right? We have seen the downward pressure in terms of budgets, resources that is required, reorganization of organizations. But it doesn’t have to be just budget, it can be the demands of a growing organization. It requires leaders to make hard decisions in terms of redirecting resources, in terms of personnel. So, leaders have to do the hard things, and not just the things that are easy and more enjoyable.-Martin Leifeld (1 min. 36 sec.)

Martin Leifeld
Vice Chancellor University Advancement,
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Class of 2002-2003

University Advancement at UMSL has more than 100 employees and an operating budget in excess of $11 million. Its units include alumni and community relations, events, fundraising, marketing and communications and St. Louis Public Radio 90.7 KWMU.

Prior to joining UMSL in August 2008, Leifeld was associate vice president for university development at Saint Louis University. He also has served as director of development for the Diocese of Belleville in Belleville, IL, as well as a consultant and outreach executive in Ohio and Wisconsin.

Leifeld currently serves on the board of directors for FOCUS St. Louis® and a member of its executive committee. He is a past board member for Food Outreach and now serves on its President’s Council. Previously he has served on the boards of the Nonprofit Services Center and of the Southern Illinois Charitable Giving Council.

Leifeld holds a bachelor's degree (summa cum laude) in theology and a master's degree in business administration, both from Franciscan University.