Iowa State’s top two fund-raisers may be leaving to pursue other opportunities at two universities on opposite ends of the country.

Murray Blackwelder, vice president for External Affairs, is a finalist for the position of senior vice president for advancement at Purdue University, said Purdue President and former ISU President Martin Jischke.

“The search process was conducted and he emerged as a finalist,” he said. “[The position] includes development of the public radio stations and university relations.”

Blackwelder visited the Purdue campus Tuesday, and Jischke said it has not yet been concluded how the visit went. He said no date has been set to pick the person for the position.

Blackwelder would follow in the steps of Rab Mukerjea, former ISU assistant to the president for budget and planning. Mukerjea left Iowa State to work at Purdue as director of strategic planning and assessment March 1. Jischke became president of Purdue Aug. 13.

Tom Mitchell, ISU Foundation president, is a finalist for vice president for Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Washington in Seattle.

“I was nominated for the position, and they contacted me,” he said.

Mitchell said he and his wife will travel to Seattle Monday to visit with representatives of the university and others “regarding the continuing discussions about this position.”

“I would oversee the development operation, which has a staff of 225,” he said. “They are anticipating launching a $2 billion campaign this fall. I would also have to oversee responsibilities of the alumni association.”

The University of Washington is regarded as one of the top public research universities in the country, and their medical center is ranked among the top two or three nationally, Mitchell said.

“So it is an institution of very high quality and one that has an enormously strong medical center,” he said. “In light of those two elements, along with the idea of launching a $2 billion campaign, I have continued my discussion with the university officials and am continuing to look at it carefully.”

Phyllis Lepke, ISU Foundation senior vice president, said she believes it was too early to speculate on Mitchell’s possible departure.

“I think that the ISU Foundation is very strong under Tom’s leadership, and that we have partnerships with deans, directors, the university administration, volunteers, alumni and friends of the university,” she said. “At this time, it’s our intent to continue to move forward to secure and manage funds for the benefit of Iowa State.”