Donald Ritzenhein of Mount Clemens has been promoted from director of annual giving and development services to assistant vice president for university development at Wayne State University.

In making the announcement, Gary Rounding, senior vice president for development and alumni affairs said, "Don has earned his stripes here at Wayne, and I am pleased to have him as a major leader of an excellent team of development professionals and support staff."

Ritzenhein has a 30-year relationship with Wayne, beginning when he was an undergraduate student in the university's Monteith College and a collegiate debater in the late 1960s. He earned a master's degree in communication from Wayne in 1981 and in 1984 was elected president of the WSU Alumni Association.

He joined the alumni staff as director in 1985, and has held several positions in university development since moving there in 1989. Ritzenhein served most recently as interim vice president for development and alumni affairs during the search for a permanent senior vice president.

"I am excited about this assignment and opportunity," said Ritzenhein, whose duties will include expanding and increasing alumni donations to the annual fund, providing research and database support to major gift fund-raisers, and taking care of the growing number of major donors to the university after they make their gifts.

Thanks to the increased visibility of Wayne under President Irvin D. Reid, and the excitement being generated by our entry into hockey and Division I athletics, alumni are anxious to jump on board and support their alma mater," he said. "It's my job to make sure the broad base of our alumni can participate in Wayne's continuing growth."

Ritzenhein has been active in Mount Clemens civic affairs, having served as director of personnel and acting city manager for the City of Mount Clemens before joining Wayne State. He has served as president of The Art Center and was a trustee on the Mount Clemens Board of Education. He is president of the Mount Clemens Cable Commission and treasurer of the Mount Clemens Educational Foundation.

He and his wife, Elsie, who is president of the Mount Clemens Board of Education, live in an historic home on the Clinton River. Their son, Rob, 17, is a senior at Mount Clemens High School.