Some people have a natural inclination to be genuinely welcoming, whether it’s in a one-on-one or in a group setting. It’s the immediate reaction one gets when meeting Andrew “Drew” Bednarski, who recently joined the dean’s office as a director of national development.
Bednarski’s personality is quickly winning over those who he works with as well as connecting with alumni and friends in securing philanthropic support.
He graciously took the time to answer some questions so that we could all get to know him better.
Tell us about your professional history up to this point and what is your educational background?
Most recently, I led the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s corporate, government and foundations programs in support of its regular operations as well as its $150 million transformation.
Prior to that, I held a number of development roles; The Cleveland Orchestra, Aiglon College (Switzerland), the University of Cambridge (UK), and also for research institutes.
I hold a PhD in Egyptology from the University of Cambridge and I worked professionally as an archaeologist and Egyptologist for a decade. For eight of those years, I lived in Egypt, facilitating and building research projects. It was through my scholarly work that I found my way into the world of development (you’ll be shocked to learn that research institutes need support!).
Why did you choose CWRU?
In addition to my love of research and learning centers, I was particularly drawn to CWRU at this point in its history. This is an exciting time for the university—with big, ambitious initiatives, like the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building and the Human Fusions Institute.
CWRU is charting its future in the twenty-first century. This is a great time to join, to effect change, and to be part of big things to come.
What do you like most about your role?
I love helping to drive the missions of institutions that I believe in, either programmatically or as a fundraiser. I like working with talented people to achieve truly ambitious projects, and CWRU has definitely afforded me that.
What do you look forward to in your professional career?
I look forward to seeing positive, impactful changes to institutions.
Do you have any personal goals, hobbies, family, interests that you would like to share?
I grew up in French Canada and lived abroad for 20 years. I also speak French and Arabic and try to practice both whenever possible. I still maintain an active research and publication agenda, as a passion and hobby.