After 12 years and $1.1 billion, what's left for a president to do?

During the last five years, President Shapiro has spent a significant amount of his time away from the institution he leads.

Instead of strolling through ivy-covered archways, taking in the view of Cannon Green from his first-floor Nassau Hall office or watching Princeton students hustle between classes, the president of the nation's top university has been traversing chaotic airport terminals, climbing onto cramped airplanes and spending night after night in countless hotels.

And his fund-raising efforts have resulted in endowment growth almost as marked as that of his frequent flyer balance.

With the completion of the $1.1 billion Anniversary Campaign for Princeton on June 30, Shapiro has led the most successful fund-raising effort in the University's history.

The funds have helped finance new academic and research programs, expand the financial aid program and launch many new and ongoing construction projects, such as Scully Hall, Frist Campus Center and dormitory renovations.

A fund-raising campaign of such magnitude typically represents the flagship accomplishment of a university president's tenure.

And for Shapiro, passing that benchmark in his 12th year at the University's helm calls into question his future plans.

Former University President Robert Goheen '40 said, "It does happen frequently" that University presidents resign after holding the post for "10 or 12 years" and completing their campaigns.

"Being president of a major university is a major responsibility, and especially taxing," Goheen said. "After a while, you may want to do something else, even though you enjoy what you're doing."

Goheen himself continued to serve 12 years after the completion of his capital campaign.

While Goheen said he believed his tenure of 15 years was "fully sufficient" and that it was "time for new leadership" when he stepped down, he said Shapiro "has done an extraordinarily fine job and is going strong."

"I'm not eager to see him resign," Goheen said.

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Shapiro also denied any suggestion that he might resign now that the capital campaign has concluded.

Instead, Shapiro said his workload this year could be just as hectic as last year since he will be focusing on other tasks. He still plans to do a large amount of traveling, but this time to visit alumni across the United States and abroad to thank them for their contributions and for their help with the campaign.

"We are very inspired by the accomplishments of the University, but we are really focused on the future," he said, explaining that a full slate of new and ongoing projects faces Princeton. "We are always looking forward," he added.

Shapiro said some of the biggest tasks he will be working on will be mobilizing funds and providing direction for the sixth residential college, the renovation of East Pyne into a new humanities center and improvements to financial aid.

When asked when he thought he might resign, Shapiro gave what he says is his "humorous" response: "Well, it depends on who gets tired first — me or the trustees."

Vice President and Secretary Thomas Wright '62 said he too is focusing on the future. "I feel like there is so much ahead of us still on the plate," he said.

Richard Spies GS '72, the University's vice president for finance and administration, noted that the University now will focus on annual giving, which he said is "at the center of Princeton's fund-raising efforts whether during a campaign or not."

He said fund raising for "major capital initiatives" — those projects funded by multimillion-dollar gifts — would become "more selective."

Spies said now when the University receives a large gift, it will try to match more closely the donor's interests and the institution's needs, rather than simply saying, "Well, let's find someplace for this individual's gift to go."

Though the University remains focused on its many tasks at hand, administrators recalled the excitement they felt as the campaign neared its dollar goal.

"There was a sense we were really going to break through [the $1-billion mark], and then all through June there were lots and lots of people who wanted to get involved," Spies said.

When the campaign rolled to a close, he said, "Everyone was saying, 'Wow, we did it!' "

Wright also expressed satisfaction with the success of the campaign. "It was like finishing a marathon with a world record," he said. "We were both tired and exhilarated."

Vice President for Development Van Zandt Williams '65 exclaimed "You betcha!" when asked if there was a sense of relief around his office as the campaign ended, but stressed the University has an "inventory of needs" to which it must attend.

He said the University would continue to focus on steering the dorm renovation project, securing resources for faculty projects and other academic initiatives and implementing the Wythes Committee recommendations, among other things.

Williams did make one admission, however.

"The development staff did take a little bit more time off this summer than we might have otherwise," he said.