Steve Blair
Chief Development Officer
Associate Vice President for Development & Alumni Affairs, USF Health


For nearly two decades, Steve Blair has masterfully connected people with science, clinical care and medical research. His passion for advancing the cause of medical research brought him to USF Health in early 2007 to become Chief Development Officer and Associate Vice President - responsible for oversight of all fund-raising and alumni efforts at USF Health.

Currently, the University of South Florida is the second largest public university in the state and the ninth largest in the country. As Chief Development Officer, Steve manages a multi–million dollar portfolio and a team working to fund key research, clinical care and scholarship initiatives across the three colleges: Medicine, Nursing and Public Health. Under his leadership, the USF Health Development Office is working toward meeting its 2006 – 2007 fiscal year goal of raising $30 million.

He arrived at USF Health at a pivotal time in its history. The university is one of only 95 public and private universities in the nation to be designated as a Carnegie Comprehensive Doctoral Research University/Very High Research Activity. Fundraising to strengthen key research initiatives in allergy, immunology and infectious diseases; cancer biology; cardiovascular system; and neuroscience are among Steve's areas of focus. In addition, Steve provides strategic oversight across colleges in order to enhance existing and create new opportunities in the areas of student scholarships and faculty recruitment and retention.

Steve Blair has served in a variety of leadership roles since entering non-profit management nearly 20 years ago. Prior to his arrival at USF, Steve was the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, where he created an impressive track record of developing and successfully implementing innovative fund-raising and public affairs strategies. In addition, he has held leadership roles at the March of Dimes; the American Heart Association; the University of California, San Diego where he established the Cardiovascular Center; and he is actively involved in the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy, the Council for Advancement & Support of Education and Rotary International, among others

Steve Blair holds a BA in Speech Communications from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, with a minor in biology. He is certified in the areas of non-profit public relations, planned giving and fund-raising management.