ROCHESTER ROTARY’S TUESDAY LUNCHEON WELCOMED GARY

Russi has served as president of Oakland University since 1996 while also actively participating in the community. A key component of the school's unprecedented growth in both stature and size, Russi's leadership has helped OU's student population to increase by more than 6,000, while 53 new academic degree programs have also been added.

With a focus on strategic planning, Russi announced the university's first comprehensive campaign, "Innovation and Opportunity - The Campaign for Oakland University," with a goal of raising $110 million by 2010 for professorships, scholarships, research endowments, academic programs and improved facilities. In April 2009, a year ahead of schedule, the university reached this ambitious goal and raised more than $111 million.

Russi has also led the way for OU to develop both major partnerships with William Beaumont Hospitals and Thomas M. Cooley Law School, as well as a new satellite campus in Macomb County. Additionally, more than $190 million has been invested during Russi's tenure to enhance environments for teaching, researching, learning and living at the university's main campus.

Open to the community, the luncheon will be held at the Rivercrest Banquet Center from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. For more information of the upcoming luncheon or other Rotary events, visit www.rochesterrotaryclub.org.

The Rochester Rotary Club is just one of more than 32,000 Rotary clubs and 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide. Chartered in 1912 as the 36th club of Rotary International, more than 330 professional men and women are active in the club today and strive to live out Rotary International's motto of "service above self," enriching the lives of world neighbors, city youth and people with disabilities.