Rick Shangraw

Biography

Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Rick Shangraw is the oldest of three children, with a brother and sister. An interest in academia, research and innovation led Shangraw to follow in the footsteps of his father, pharmaceuticals researcher Ralph F. Shangraw. Shangraw holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (magna cum laude) in political science from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania (official website), and was the first person to receive a certificate in environmental studies from that institution. Shangraw also earned a master's degree in public administration from Syracuse University, and a Ph.D. from Syracuse with a specialization in technology, information policy and organization design. Prior to working in the private sector, Shangraw served as an assistant professor at Syracuse.

Sustainability

An affinity for sustainability led Shangraw in 1999 to found CARL — the R.F. Shangraw Jr. Community Aquatic Research Laboratory in the Environmental Studies department of his undergraduate alma mater, Dickinson College. CARL is a key component of Dickinson’s Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring, allowing students and staff to perform watershed tests and experiments.

Higher education

After more than a decade in the private sector, Shangraw returned to higher education, becoming an executive leader at Arizona State University in 2004. Shangraw established and led the university’s innovative Decision Theater (official website) from 2005–07. He was ASU vice president for research and economic affairs until 2010, when he was chosen by ASU President Michael Crow to serve as director of the Global Institute of Sustainability (now the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability) in the ASU School of Sustainability, and as senior vice president of the university’s Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development. As director of GIOS, Shangraw oversaw the institute’s research, education and problem-solving initiatives, with a focus on urban environments. At OKED, Shangraw established ASU as one of the fastest-growing research enterprises in the country, ranking in the top 20 of all research universities without a medical school.

In addition to his role as head of the ASU Foundation, Shangraw served as CEO of ASU Research Enterprise, the university’s defense and security affiliate.

Shangraw also currently holds professor of practice appointments in the ASU School of Sustainability and the ASU College of Public Service & Community Solutions.

Professional affiliations

Shangraw’s professional affiliations include service on several boards of directors, including:

CEO of Project Performance Corporation

In 1988, Shangraw left his teaching post at Syracuse University for the private sector, applying technology policy and management to improve the outcomes of large-scale government and commercial projects. During the 14 years that followed he founded and led Project Performance Corporation, a Washington, D.C.-based research and technology consulting firm specializing in environmental, energy and information management. During his tenure, PPC was recognized among the Inc. 500 as one of the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the U.S. PPC grossed $32 million in Shangraw’s final year as CEO.

CEO of the ASU Foundation for A New American University

From 2011 to 2017, Shangraw served as president and chief executive officer of the ASU Foundation for A New American University (official website), a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that acquires and invests resources to support Arizona State University. In 2008, reflecting ASU President Michael Crow's concept of ASU as a "New American University", the foundation's board of directors changed the name to the ASU Foundation for A New American University. When he became CEO in 2011, Shangraw expanded the role of the foundation to better support the concept of the New American University.

Prior to his tenure the foundation had been criticized for excessive spending and a lack of transparency. Under Shangraw's direction the foundation received four-star ratings from Charity Navigator for five consecutive years for its philanthropic investments, transparency and fundraising efficiency. In 2014, Shangraw announced that the quantity of new gifts and commitments to the foundation had been restored to pre-recession levels.

Also in 2014, Shangraw directed the creation and implementation of PitchFunder, a crowdfunding program that allows students and faculty to raise money for projects and programs. PitchFunder went live online in March 2014, generating national attention.

Since 2014, the ASU Foundation has been recognized as one of the Top Companies to Work for in Arizona by CareerBuilder and AZcentral.com for three consecutive years.

CEO of ASU Enterprise Partners

In July 2016, Shangraw was named chief executive officer of ASU Enterprise Partners, a private, nonprofit organization composed of distinct entities – the ASU Foundation for A New American University, ASU Research Enterprise (ASURE), Arizona Technology Enterprises (AzTE), University Realty LLC, and the Research Collaboratory at ASU – that raise, create, and invest resources for Arizona State University by engaging in fundraising, applied research, technology transfer, realty, and collaborative research initiatives.

In its first year of operation, Enterprise Partners was named a Top Company to Work For in Arizona by Republic Media and AZcentral.com.

Personal life

Rick Shangraw has been married for 31 years to Mary Shangraw, a member of ASU Women & Philanthropy and a volunteer for the Scottsdale, Arizona Unified School District. The couple resides in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Their youngest daughter, Lexi, is a senior at Arizona State University. Their oldest children, Austin and Anna, both hold advanced degrees in law and school psychology, respectively.

Selected research and publications