Associate Vice President of University Events and Partnerships at the University of San Diego

Coreen G. Petti is an experienced strategic marketer and corporate fundraiser with over two decades of developing high-profile, promotionally-oriented programs and special events that result in increased awareness and net revenue returns. She has managed some of the university’s most prestigious projects including anniversary celebrations, presidential inaugurations, building dedications, and USD’s involvement with Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week, two Super Bowls, and the ’96 Clinton-Dole Presidential Debate. 

Petti led the charge to raise the national profile of the university by implementing an institutional-wide branding effort resulting in a new University logo and graphic identity standards. She has negotiated multi-market broadcast television buys in association with the Olympics, Super Bowl, World Cup, and the Riders Cup. She was also instrumental in overseeing the development of the university's visual identity and promotional partnership marketing plan tied to the public phase of the university's $300M comprehensive Leading Change fundraising campaign.

Currently, Petti serves as co-chair of the university’s year-long 75th Anniversary celebration and the event chair of the university’s signature fundraising event, the Founders Gala where she is responsible for securing sponsorships, procurement of gifts, donations, and auction items, as well as all aspects of execution of the event. The 2021 Founders Gala, held at San Diego Padres’ Petco Park, raised over $2.3M in net proceeds. Since its inception in 2009, the biennial Founders Gala has raised over $6M in net proceeds to support USD student scholarships.

Prior to joining the University of San Diego in 1995, she served in a corporate marketing capacity as the manager of national promotions and corporate sponsorships for the Anheuser-Busch Theme Parks (SeaWorld and Busch Gardens).

Coreen is currently serving on the San Diego Opera and iHeart Media Community Advisory boards. She was most recently selected as a finalist for The Top 50 Women Leaders in Education by Women We Admire, a membership organization comprised of over 1,500 of the most accomplished women leaders in business, finance, healthcare, and education, among others. Next month she will be recognized as a Women of Dedication by the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary of San Diego. She is a 2019 Girl Scouts San Diego Cool Woman and served most recently as the co-chair of the 2023 Girl Scouts San Diego Cool Women event. She served for nearly a decade on the board and as chair of the Academy of Our Lady of Peace.

She and her husband Kevin of 36 years enjoy traveling, participating in local cultural programs, sporting events, and spending time with their two adult children that includes her daughter Olivia, OLP Class of 2011.