New vice chancellor arrives at Palmer College
Palmer College of Chiropractic is shaped by leaders who believe deeply in its mission and invest their talent and vision in its future. This winter, Palmer marked a meaningful transition within institutional advancement and
alumni relations with the retirement of one leader and the arrival of another. After nearly a decade of service to the College — and
decades devoted to nonprofit and higher education advancement — Barbara Melbourne, J.D., retired as vice chancellor for institutional advancement at the end of January. Her tenure at Palmer was transformational. Under her leadership, the College strengthened a culture of philanthropy grounded in purpose and belief, clarified a bold institutional narrative, and completed the most successful fundraising effort in its history: the $30.2 million
“Daring and Driven” campaign. That work supported major capital improvements, expanded endowment growth, and deepened engagement with alumni and donors across Palmer’s campuses. Palmer also looks ahead with optimism. After a national search, Clare Thompson, CFRE (above), has been
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appointed vice chancellor for institutional advancement, bringing more than 20 years of experience in advancement, alumni relations, and organizational leadership. Thompson is no stranger to Palmer. During her earlier service as executive director of advancement, she played a central role in the same “Daring and Driven” campaign and helped significantly increase fundraising outcomes and alumni participation. “Clare brings both deep institutional knowledge and a
forward-looking vision to this role,” says Palmer Chancellor and CEO Dennis Marchiori, D.C., Ph.D. (`90). “She understands Palmer’s mission at a fundamental level and has a proven ability to translate that mission into meaningful relationships, philanthropic investment, and lasting impact. We are thrilled to welcome her back to the College at this pivotal moment.” Most recently, Thompson served as vice president for
advancement, alumni relations, and athletics at Western Illinois University, where she led a comprehensive advancement enterprise and guided strategy during a period of institutional change. Collaborative and mission-driven, she returns to Palmer with a strong understanding that advancement is ultimately about people, purpose, and impact.
SPRING 2026 College news
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