Experience

Northwestern University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Assistant Vice President, Schools and Programs

  • May 2022 - Present

  Member of the leadership team for schools and programs, supervising development and alumni relations efforts for four undergraduate schools and five programs: Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications; School of Communication; Bienen School of Music; School of Education and Social Policy; Block Museum of Art; Parent Giving; Student Affairs; Provost Initiatives and Financial Aid.

• Executive Director of Development, Schools and Programs

  • Aug 2018 - May 2022

  Member of the leadership team for schools and programs, overseeing all development and alumni relations efforts for Northwestern’s non-degree conferring programs, including Parent Giving and Student Affairs; Libraries, Press and Archives; Block Museum of Art; Provost Initiatives; and Financial Aid, with a cumulative campaign goal of $400M• Supervise a team of ten with five direct reports, including four directors of development, with focused efforts on solicitation and closure of six, seven and eight-figure gifts• Partner with deans, vice president and provosts to direct high-performance teams in support of University priorities• Lead fundraiser on 53 major and principal gifts totaling $20.2M and partner on 37 major and principal gifts since 2013; Consistently rank in the top quintile of all major gift fundraisers • Architect of trustee white paper on fundraising priorities in support of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives• Co-lead task force on driving major gift activity in a virtual environment• Frequent presenter for staff trainings and donor videos

• Senior Director, Parent Giving and Student Affairs

  • Mar 2016 - Aug 2018

  Senior frontline fundraiser and manager responsible for leading overall fundraising efforts from parents and for the student experience.• Restructured Student Life and Parent Giving teams to create one centralized team with multiple goals• Consistently drove record parent fundraising numbers year to year, including 84% increase in total dollars raised, 50% increase in number of major gifts closed and 123% increase in major gift dollars raised• Grew annual fundraising totals for Student Affairs 226% to create new standard and permanently elevate fiscal year goals• As chief development officer for Student Affairs, partnered with the vice president for student affairs to set and communicate philanthropic priorities, cultivate high-level prospects and solicit and steward seven-figure gifts• Supervised two frontline major gifts officers, an assistant director and program assistant; directed donor discovery and prospect pipeline, conceived and executed strategic events to advance fundraising goals

• Director of Development

  • Aug 2013 - Mar 2016

  Senior frontline fundraiser and manager responsible for leading overall fundraising efforts for top journalism and marketing communications school• Lead $60M comprehensive development campaign for Medill, currently 81% to goal with 58% of the campaign complete• Develop and execute specific and actionable strategies for the dean and key faculty, resulting in annual fundraising totals 12-44% above goal• Collaborate extensively with regional fundraisers, foundation relations, corporate engagement and planned giving teams to identify, cultivate and solicit major and principal gift prospects, forging successful partnerships that resulted in four gift commitments in FY15, one so far in FY16 and two are pending• Increased Medill’s annual fundraising total by 256% in first year in current role. Dollars raised in the past 26 months account for 23% of total raised by Medill in the last 40 years• Recruit and manage Medill Campaign Committee, creating customized action plans for each member to advance relationships with key prospects• Consistently meet or exceed fundraiser accountability metrics, exceeding major gifts fundraising goal by 26% in Q1 of FY16 and by 150% in FY15. • Communicate the school’s fundraising priorities to all constituencies as architect of the case statement, author of annual fund appeals and source of proposal content• Supervise frontline major gifts officer and program assistant; set goals and conduct performance evaluations to ensure peak productivity, promote skill development and advance professional goals

• Senior Associate Director, Major Gifts

  • Jan 2012 - Aug 2013

  Frontline fundraiser responsible for soliciting gifts of $100,000 to $5,000,000+ from alumni, parents and friends of the University•Managed portfolio of approximately 75 prospects to cultivate, solicit and steward these very important relationships •Raised $700,000 in new gifts and commitments in six months as a major gifts officer in fiscal year 2012•Staffed Provost, vice presidents and deans on cultivation, stewardship and solicitation calls in the New York Metro region•Worked collaboratively with academic leadership, senior university administrators and key volunteers to cultivate and solicit donors for University-wide priorities•Directed strategy, communications, and management of women’s philanthropy group chaired by University trustees, focusing on major and principal gift donors and prospects•Conceived and executed creative events and outreach programming in strategic support of development goals

• Associate Director, Leadership Giving

  • Jan 2009 - Jan 2012

  Frontline fundraiser responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding gifts of $1,000-$50,000 to the University and managing regional board of top volunteers•Managed portfolio of 100 leadership annual fund and major gift prospects, including key volunteers and University Trustees, with 50% increase in dollars from fiscal year 2010 to fiscal year 2011•Developed cultivation strategies for parents of a board volunteer resulting in $10M gift•Directed strategies and communications for fundraising volunteers, including University Trustees, resulting in 20-25% growth in dollars from year to year and a record $1.25M raised (for recording purposes, gifts are capped at $100K)•Grew board to more than 100 members from 70•Provided leadership and continuity for New York Metro staff and donors during 18-month management transition•Analyzed women’s group led by two University Trustees and implemented reforms to promote the philanthropy of major gift and principal gift prospects; resulting in new committee with 36% higher average lifetime giving•Engaged approximately 1,000 prospects through strategically planned events



KMSP Fox 9 News

• Reporter

  • Oct 2006 - Oct 2008

  Reported live daily for 5, 6, 9 and 10pm broadcasts in extremely competitive and fast-paced work environment•Researched story ideas and identified appropriate sources for each assignment•Interviewed newsmakers for live and pre-taped segments•Recognized with an Emmy nomination for breaking news coverage of the collapse of the 35W Bridge•Represented station at charity events and appearances Reported live daily for 5, 6, 9 and 10pm broadcasts in extremely competitive and fast-paced work environment•Researched story ideas and identified appropriate sources for each assignment•Interviewed newsmakers for live and pre-taped segments•Recognized with an Emmy nomination for breaking news coverage of the collapse of the 35W Bridge•Represented station at charity events and appearances



WTVF NewsChannel5

• Reporter/Anchor

  • Sep 2002 - Sep 2006

  Weekend Anchor/Reporter (Feb.2004-Sept.2006), Morning Reporter (Sept. 2002-Nov.2003) Generated story ideas and reported live daily on deadline for market’s top-rated news station•Reported live up to 9 times a day with emphasis on spot news, recognized with an Emmy Award for Live Breaking News•Frequently contributed live reports to CNN and the Weather Channel•Fostered relationships with sources to uncover exclusive stories including one-on-one interview with Bill Clinton•Wrote, edited, and presented copy for weekend news broadcasts•Researched and produced in-depth series including Emmy-nominated report on the methamphetamine epidemic in Tennessee•Frequent public speaking appearances for community and civic groups



WCTV

• United States
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Reporter/Weekend Anchor

  • Mar 1999 - Sep 2002

  Anchored and co-produced weekend newscasts; reported daily on crime and education beats for the market’s top-rated news station•Fostered network of contacts to uncover exclusive stories•Frequently broke stories during 36-day coverage of the 2000 Presidential Election recount •Recognized by schools superintendent for superior coverage of education issues facing district of 33,000 students Anchored and co-produced weekend newscasts; reported daily on crime and education beats for the market’s top-rated news station•Fostered network of contacts to uncover exclusive stories•Frequently broke stories during 36-day coverage of the 2000 Presidential Election recount •Recognized by schools superintendent for superior coverage of education issues facing district of 33,000 students