Heather Pieper-Olson
Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement
Heather Pieper-Olson
Heather Pieper-Olson is Vice President for Advancement & Alumni Engagement, a department that works to facilitate student and faculty experiences through philanthropy, in addition to celebrating alumni and their accomplishments as stewards of St. Cloud State University. Advancement & Alumni Engagement also manages the St. Cloud State Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that provides a means for alumni, friends and corporations to make tax-deductible contributions in support of the University.
Pieper-Olson leads the University’s efforts to strengthen philanthropic support, deepen alumni and community engagement, and advance strategic partnerships that support institutional priorities and long-term sustainability.
Prior Experience
Pieper-Olson’s professional background includes experience as an attorney with the St. Cloud office of Gray Plant Mooty, where she practiced general litigation and served as counselor attorney to the Mexican Consulate in St. Paul.
She later transitioned to advancement, building a career marked by increasing leadership responsibility across all facets of institutional advancement. Before joining SCSU in July 2026, Pieper-Olson served as Vice President of Institutional Advancement at the College of Saint Benedict. During her tenure she led significant growth in major and planned giving that resulted in nearly $48 million raised for endowments and more than 300% growth in funded scholarship aid at Saint Benedict — advancing critical financial support for students.
Education
- Juris Doctor, University of Minnesota Law School
- Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, College of Charleston
- Bachelor of Science in Anthropology, College of Charleston
Personal
Pieper-Olson maintains strong ties to the St. Cloud area, including prior service as a graduate assistant volleyball coach at St. Cloud State. An active community member, she has served on the board of the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation and remains involved in local athletics and community initiatives.