Appointment marks a new chapter in the Foundation’s partnership with the University, strengthening alignment in support of UToledo’s mission and future.

On Sept. 3, 2026, The University of Toledo Foundation announced that JR Blackburn has been named President and CEO, effective Oct. 12. Blackburn will succeed Brenda Lee, the Foundation's inaugural president, who has been serving in an interim capacity since May. Lee previously announced her retirement from the Foundation June 2025.

Blackburn's appointment coincides with an updated memorandum of agreement between the Foundation and The University of Toledo, designed to strengthen alignment between the two organizations and foster greater collaboration in support of the University's philanthropic and institutional priorities. Foundation leaders say the refreshed agreement, paired with Blackburn's arrival, positions the organization to deepen its partnership with University leadership and expand support for students, faculty and academic programs.

"JR brings exactly the kind of relationship-driven, collaborative leadership we were looking for," said The Hon. Nancy Miller '77, '79, '88 J.D., chair of The University of Toledo Foundation Board of Directors. "The three decades of experience he brings in building trust among academic, administrative and community stakeholders, combined with his deep understanding of comprehensive fundraising, make him uniquely equipped to lead the organization at such a pivotal moment. I'm confident his leadership will help us build an even stronger partnership with the University in service to our students and our community."

Dr. James Holloway, president of The University of Toledo, said the renewed memorandum of agreement reflects the University's commitment to a more integrated partnership with the Foundation. "This agreement strengthens the connective tissue between the University and the Foundation at exactly the right time," Holloway said. "JR's track record of bringing people together around shared institutional priorities and his deep respect for shared governance make him an ideal partner as we work together to advance our mission and expand opportunity for our educators, researchers, caregivers and students in the classroom, in experiential learning and in athletic competition. I look forward to a close, collaborative relationship with him in the years ahead."

Blackburn is an executive leader with more than 30 years of experience spanning higher education, institutional advancement, private enterprise and community leadership. His career has centered on building relationships, advancing institutional priorities and uniting people around shared goals.

Most recently, Blackburn served as chief of staff in the Office of the President at The Ohio State University, where he provided strategic coordination and operational leadership across the university, advancing presidential and institutional priorities and leading complex initiatives that required collaboration across academic and administrative areas. He served as architect of Education for Citizenship 2035, Ohio State's university-wide strategic plan, and led the university's enterprise scorecard and performance framework, translating institutional priorities into measurable goals. His approach reflected a strong commitment to shared governance, working closely with the President's Cabinet, college deans, faculty, staff, University Senate, the University Staff Advisory Committee and student government.

Prior to Ohio State, Blackburn served as associate vice president for University Development at the University of Maryland, leading the university's comprehensive development enterprise across major, annual, planned, principal, and corporate and foundation giving. He led a 138-person organization supporting a fundraising operation that generated more than $200 million annually, and provided leadership for presidential engagement and development strategy in support of Maryland's $1.5 billion Fearless Ideas campaign.

Blackburn also spent a decade at Ohio University in progressively responsible advancement leadership positions, including roles in the Scripps College of Communication and culminating as assistant vice president for development and associate campaign manager. He led comprehensive development strategy and a 53-person advancement organization and helped lead The Promise Lives Campaign, which concluded with more than $500 million in philanthropic support.

Earlier in his higher education career, Blackburn served as director of the Office of College Relations and Advancement at Hocking College after initially working with the institution as an independent consultant to the Office of the President. During his tenure, he helped build and scale the college's advancement, fundraising, marketing and institutional relations capabilities and developed partnerships supporting the college and surrounding community.

Blackburn also brings nearly a decade of private-sector executive leadership experience as chief operating officer and general manager of Blackburn Home Furnishings, his family's multigenerational business in Nelsonville, Ohio.

A committed community leader, Blackburn has served as president of the Nelsonville City Planning Commission, a board member of the Athens County Foundation, chair of a successful Nelsonville-York City Schools levy campaign, and for more than a decade as president and chair of Nelsonville's Parade of the Hills Festival. In 2003, he became the youngest recipient of the Nelsonville Area Chamber of Commerce's Victor R. Oakley Person of the Year Award. He currently serves on The Ohio State University Alumni Association Board of Directors and previously served two terms on the Board of Governors of The Ohio State University Marching Band Alumni Club.

Blackburn earned a bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University and a Master of Business Administration from Franklin University. A former squad leader in The Ohio State University Marching Band, he remains active with the alumni band and is a trumpet player.

"I'm honored to join The University of Toledo Foundation and to build on the momentum this team has already created," Blackburn said. "Throughout my career, I've believed that the strongest institutions are built on genuine relationships and a shared sense of purpose. I'm grateful for the trust the Board has placed in me, and I look forward to working alongside University leadership to build an even stronger partnership — one that expands opportunity for students, deepens engagement with alumni and donors, and advances the University's mission for years to come."

The University of Toledo Foundation Board also expressed gratitude for Brenda Lee’s steady leadership during the interim period. "We are deeply grateful to Brenda for stepping back in and guiding the Foundation through this transition with the same dedication she brought throughout her career," Miller said.