Marc Donovan ’05 named director of Facilities and Campus Development

Publication Date

Marc Donovan ’05 has been promoted to director of Facilities and Campus Development following a national search. He succeeds Loren Rucinski, who retired in December after 35 years at the College.

Mark Donovan

Donovan joined Facilities Services in 2013 as assistant director before being promoted to associate director.

As director, Donovan will oversee campus master planning, new campus construction, renovations, physical space improvement projects, building services and maintenance, as well as grounds and landscaping services. Facilities is responsible for all building projects and repairs, heating and cooling maintenance, utilities, custodial and cleaning activities, summer programs and event management. The department also takes a lead role in environmental sustainability efforts, among other services.

He will supervise a staff of 100.

“We are very excited to promote Marc from associate director to director after many years of loyal, dedicated service,” said Scott Jones, vice president for Administration and Finance.

“As Union embarks on an ambitious plan to improve the campus environment, we believe Marc is the right person to lead our Facilities team to achieve its highest levels, whether new construction, building management or environmental sustainability. Our shared goal is to use the physical spaces to support students, faculty and staff in the creation and dissemination of knowledge, as well as offer opportunities for growth and development.”

A mechanical engineering major at Union, Donovan served in a variety of roles for seven years with Turner Construction Company, including project superintendent and budget and risk engineer. Among the projects he worked on were the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Mass.; the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Data Center.

He also spent a year as a senior engineer at Albany Medical Center.

He is married to Betsy McPhail ’05. The couple has two children, McKenna and Kelsey. The family lives in Ballston Lake.

“Union College has meant so much to me,” Donovan said. “I am humbled by this opportunity and am excited to get to work on our spectacular facilities and continued evolution of the campus. The facilities team is full of dedicated, dynamic and talented professionals. I am so excited to be a part of this team and lead the department into the future.”