Universitywide development and communications staff

Margaret Ann Bollmeier provides strategic leadership aimed at strengthening MCV Foundation’s philanthropic efforts and relationships in the community and at Virginia Commonwealth University. A seasoned advancement professional with more than 25 years of experience, including 14 years as a foundation chief executive, Bollmeier has held leadership positions at Cornell University, the University of Virginia, University of Washington, Humanities Washington, Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Providence Medical Center Foundation. She received her B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and her J.D. from Washington & Lee University School of Law.  

Brian Thomas joined VCU in 2005 as vice president for the School of Engineering Foundation before joining the MCV Foundation staff in 2009 as senior executive director of development. He was promoted to vice president and chief development officer of the MCV Foundation in December 2015. Thomas has more than 30 years of fundraising experience and has served in leadership positions in national organizations, including CASE and the ABA Section for Institutional Advancement. Thomas has worked for Hampden-Sydney College, the University of Richmond, Stetson University College of Law and Vanderbilt University. He earned his M.B.A. from the University of Richmond and his B.A. in economics from Hampden-Sydney College. At the MCV Foundation, Thomas works with donors to secure principal, major and planned gifts for the benefit of the MCV Campus, including five health sciences schools, Massey Cancer Center, VCU Health and other centers and programs. 

Paul Brockwell began as marketing communications manager in July 2019 at the MCV Foundation. Previously, he was a senior communications strategy specialist with the State Corporation Commission and worked nearly six years in higher education communications at the University of Richmond, where his writing earned CASE and PRSA regional recognition. Brockwell earned a master’s in public communications from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, and a B.A. in religious studies from William & Mary. In the community, he serves on the Library of Virginia board, the W&M Leadership Advisory Council, Omicron Delta Kappa’s National Advisory Council and in various roles at Grace Baptist Church. He loves obsessing about good television/pop culture, trying to read as many books as he can and hiking the James River trails in his spare time. In the past, he has written about Richmond’s food and drink scene for Style Weekly. 

Eric Peters first came to VCU to work on the MCV Campus in 2011 as a public relations specialist in University Relations. For nearly five years he managed media relations and news content for the health sciences schools and spent time as public relations manager for the VCU Center for Clinical and Translational Research. He returned to the MCV Campus in 2017 after working in the federal government for nearly two years. Peters holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from VCU, a master’s degree in corporate and professional communication from Radford University, a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in nonprofit management from VCU and accreditation in public relations from the Public Relations Society of America.