It is with mixed emotions that I announce Huyen Lee’s new position as the Analyst for the Office of the Executive Vice President.  In her new role, Huyen will report to Matthew Blazejewski, and provide analytical support, event coordination, project management and communications assistance to John Affleck-Graves.

In her tenure as Assistant Director, Regional Analysis for the Midwest region, Huyen has exemplified teamwork, innovation, and technical excellence.  She has met challenges with a contagious enthusiasm and collaborative spirit that will be missed in University Relations.

Huyen will transition to her new role effective Tuesday, May 28.  The position of ADRA – Midwest will be posted shortly. Please join me in congratulating Huyen and wishing her the best as she continues to serve Our Lady’s University.

Best regards,

Anne Griffith, Director of Prospect Management

On December 20, 2013, University Relations held an all-day perpetual prayer service in the Blessed Brother Andre Chapel in Flanner Hall. It ran from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and was in memory of the victims of the Sandy Hook School tragedy the week before.

A candle from our Grotto, as well as the pictures and names of the victims were placed on the altar. There were Notre Dame note cards there for our staff who wished to write a note to be sent to the families of the victims. It was one of the most prayerful, touching division wide projects we have ever accomplished.

These note cards were sent to those who run Newton, Connecticut. I never expected any response as I am sure these kinds of things came in from all over the world. Just after Easter, one of the volunteers sent me a simple postcard thanking University Relations for their prayers and their efforts. It read, “On behalf of the people of Newtown, thank you for reaching out to our community. Your voice has been heard and your caring is deeply appreciated. Your words and prayers of kindness truly touch our hearts. We truly feel all the love from around the globe.”

We should all be very proud of what we did. It was done at a very busy time, and many of you were able to spend some very precious time praying for these victims. We should be proud of who we are, and proud of the fact we banded together when others were in need.

In Notre Dame,

Doug Leyes

Dear Colleagues –

I am delighted to announce that Mary Bueno will be joining Development as the Sr. Administrative Assistant for Annual Giving Programs (AGP) effective April 22, 2013, reporting to me.  Mary will be responsible for coordinating the integrated schedule for the AGP leadership team, managing the AGP Operating Rhythm schedule and reporting, and administrative support requirements for the AGP Leadership Team.

Mary brings significant experience as an Executive Assistant with roles of increasing responsibility including the position of Secretary for the President of Honeywell’s Engine Controls business based in South Bend.  Her responsibilities in these roles included coordinating the president’s calendar and travel schedule, including international trips, maintaining office files and confidential information, preparing internal and customer presentations, coordinating on-site and off-site meetings for customers and upper management, scheduling use of corporate aircraft including passenger manifests and flight logs, leading employee recreation teams, and being a member of the employee fitness team responsible for building an on-site fitness center.

Mary recently re-entered the administrative assistant field after taking 10 years off to adopt two wonderful daughters from China, Hannah (age 15) and Caroline (age 13).  She and her husband Manuel are long-term residents of South Bend and are delighted to join the Notre Dame team.  Mary is a graduate of LaSalle High School.

Please join me in welcoming Mary to the AGP team.

In Notre Dame,

Brian Couch, Sr. Director, Annual Giving Programs

Dear Colleagues –

The Sorin Society is excited to announce new membership experiences for donors contributing at the $5,000 and $10,000 levels annually.  Donors at these levels generate over half the funds the Sorin Society receives and have a significant impact on the University.  Our goal is to expand participation at these levels even further.

The enhancements start with a change of names for the upper giving levels from Founder’s Circle to Sorin Blue ($5,000 – $9,999) and from Legacy to Sorin Gold ($10,000+), indicative of Notre Dame’s colors and the foundational commitment donors at these levels are making to the University.  The formal launch of Sorin Blue and Sorin Gold will occur on Wednesday, April 17^th via an email announcement sent to current Sorin members.  Brochures detailing the specifics of the enhanced programs will be mailed to key candidates for potential upgrade to the Sorin Blue and Sorin Gold levels on Friday, April 19^th.

• Sorin Gold members will receive an invitation to participate in exclusive signature Notre Dame Events at the annual Shamrock Series Game and at a post-season bowl, should Notre Dame participate in one.  These events will involve University leaders and unique keynote speakers on topics of special interest.
• Donors at the Sorin Blue & Gold levels will have access to a special post-game Mass and dinner, and use of a VIP Club Room Friday afternoons and pre-game Saturday during home football weekends.
• New members at both the Blue and Gold levels, as well as those who have 5 consecutive years of membership at those levels, will receive a special seatback naming opportunity at the Joyce Athletic & Convocation Center. (Members who qualify for a seatback based on 5 consecutive years will be contacted separately.)

Each of these elements is intended to say “Thank You” for the extraordinary generosity of Sorin Blue and Sorin Gold members, which helps make the mission of the University possible.

Further information on the new Sorin Blue/Gold program is available at http://supporting.nd.edu/bluegoldprogram or by contacting any of the Major Gift Officers (Giovanna Heeter, Patrick Kaiser or Jared Mrozinske) who can also provide brochures and support to fundraisers with prospects interested in Sorin Blue or Sorin Gold.  As always, the Donor Experience Team can be reached at (575)631-5198 or at sorinsoc@nd.edu to support any needs your donors may have regarding the Sorin Society.

God Bless & Go Irish!

Brian Couch, Sr. Director, Annual Giving Programs

I am pleased to announce that Dan Nussbaum has accepted the position of Associate Regional Director for Midwest Region effective May 13, 2013.  Dan will be covering Ohio and parts of Western PA.

Dan graduated from Holy Cross College in 2006 after spending 2 years as a walk-on with the Arizona State football team in 2002 and 2003.  Dan has had a successful career in medical sales in the South Bend area, having worked for Zimmer and Smith & Nephew, before starting his own distributorship in 2011.  Dan has deep roots to Notre Dame as both his father, Dick Nussbaum and his brother, Matt Nussbaum, are double domers and monogram winners.  Dick Nussbaum currently is the president of the Monogram Club and serves on the Board of Trustees here at Notre Dame.  Dan and his wife Amy are the parents of a two-year old son, Louie, and are expecting their second child in August.

Please join me in welcoming Dan to our team!

Mike

Mike Sullivan ’90, Senior Director of Development – Midwest Region

I am pleased to announce that Richard Reynolds has accepted the position of Associate Regional Director for West Region Development effective April 29, 2013.  Rich will replace John Hannan.

Rich, a Notre Dame ‘75 grad, was born and raised in South Orange, New Jersey, and has lived in New Canaan, Connecticut, with his wife Kim for the past 30 years.  They have three children – Ryan Condra and her husband Erik (both Notre Dame class of ’09), Patrick (Villanova ’12), and Christopher (Notre Dame ’17).

Since graduating from the College of Business in 1975, Richard has had extensive experience in national and international sales.  He also owned his own business and most recently served as a Financial Advisor for Merrill Lynch.

In addition to his passion for Notre Dame, he enjoys playing golf and basketball.

Please join me in welcoming Rich to our team!

In Notre Dame,

Kevin P. Cannon, Senior Director of Development, West Region

Our sympathy to Jean Collier, her husband Gary Anderson, and their family as Eleanor G. Anderson, Gary’s mother, passed away Saturday April 13^th.

 ELEANOR G.  ANDERSON

CONCORD, MA – Eleanor G. (Gallagher) Anderson, of Concord, MA, formerly of New London, NH, Vero Beach, FL, New Canaan , CT and Larchmont, NY passed away peacefully  with family  by her side on April 13, 2013, at age 88.  For 60 years, she was the beloved wife of the late Fred J. Anderson who died in 2011.

 Elly was born in Dobbs Ferry, New York on January 5, 1925, the fourth child of four girls of the late John Patrick and Norah (Ahearn) Gallagher.  She grew up in Irvington-on-Hudson, New York, attended Immaculate Conception School in Irvington and graduated in 1942 from Irvington High School.   After finishing Pratt Business School in New York City, she worked at the National Broadcasting Company, from 1946 to 1951. At the time of her retirement, Elly was the secretary to Sylvester “Pat” Weaver, President of NBC Television.

In 1946 she met the love of her life, Fred J. Anderson, while on a ski trip in the Berkshires.  Fred had just returned from serving in the U. S. Army as a spotter pilot in Germany during WWII.  After a three year courtship, they married on December 2, 1950 at Immaculate Conception Church in Irvington, New York. They settled in Larchmont, NY where they raised their five children.  They spent 27 years in Larchmont where Elly  was very active at St. John and Paul Church,  a member of the Women’s Guild, and involved with school activities with her young children.

Visiting hours at the Dee Funeral Home of Concord, MA will be held on Thursday, April 18 from 3 to 6:30 PM.

A funeral mass will be held Friday, April 19 in Holy Family Parish, Monument Square, Concord Center at 10:30 AM. Interment will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Valhalla, New York at a later date in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to:

Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, P.O. Box 304, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0304 (Note on  check: In memory of Eleanor Anderson, for work of Rev. Wm Galvin)   or   Rivercrest Staff Appreciation Fund, 80 Deaconess Road, Concord, MA 01742 (Note on check: In memory of Eleanor Anderson)

The full obituary and arrangement information can be found at  www.deefuneralhome.com

Please keep Jean and Gary in your prayers this week.

George Keegan

I am pleased to announce the Database Coordinator position within Donor Services has been posted to the HR jobs website and will remain open through April 20^th.  This position maintains the Advance database system by updating biographic information for ND alumni, parents, and friends.  We do have a preferred candidate for this position.  If you have any questions, please contact Susan Murphy at smurphy9@nd.edu or Sue Prister at sprister@nd.edu.

Thank you,
Stacy Koebel-Harder, Director Donor Services

Dear colleagues,

I am very pleased to announce that effective immediately, Anne Griffith will be promoted to Director of Prospect Management.  In this new role, Anne will lead the comprehensive strategies for prospect management across Development.  Working closely with the Sr. Directors of Regional Development, Planned Giving, CFR, Annual Giving Programs, Research, Stewardship, and other areas, she will be responsible for the day to day management of the Prospect Management team as well as business processes and strategies in this arena.

In her capacity, Anne will report to me and lead a team of talented professionals, including Huyen Lee, Lori Pope, and Sarah Bogucki.  She will collaborate closely with Colleen McQuillan as she continues in her role focusing on Principal Gift Prospect Management and Strategy, as well as the Research team in delivering best in class partnerships across the department.  Anne will also continue to work with the East Regional Development team, and deliver excellence in prospect management for this team.

Over the past three years, Anne has proven to be a trusted colleague committed to excellence and Our Lady’s Mission.  Her commitment to Prospect Management has elevated the department at Notre Dame, and resulted in a leading operation across higher education.  It is an honor to work with Anne, and I am thrilled that she will be serving in this important new leadership position.

Please join me in congratulating Anne!

Warmest regards,

Micki

It is my pleasure to announce that Sharon Rankert has accepted the position of Senior Lettershop Coordinator in Donor Services.

For the past 14 months Sharon has worked for Donor Services as a member of the Alumni Files team. While in Alumni Files, Sharon did a great job ensuring that updates from mynotredame were completed on a daily basis. She helped identity enhancements to the front end of mynotredame, giving our alumni, parents and friends a better user experience and ensuring that the data going into Advance was more accurate and in accordance with the users’ intent.  Sharon was also a major contributor in the Advance Web implementation, helping write Work Instructions and Policies and Procedures and testing biographic data forms. She has been an asset in Alumni Files with her strong work ethic, dedication and innovative ideas. In her new role, Sharon will help guide the Lettershop staff in maintaining high standards for donor acknowledgments as well as continuing the work on implementing new Lettershop processes.

Sharon graduated from Indiana University of South Bend and, prior to coming to Notre Dame, served as a Stewardship Coordinator at Culver Academies with responsibilities in donor reporting. Her other experiences include her employment at Pebble Beach Resorts, where she was identified as the top reservations agent for the Pebble Beach Resorts, and substitute teaching in Wuerzburg, Germany. Sharon’s husband Brett is retired from the military and is currently employed at Culver Military Academy. Her son, Justin, is attending Indiana University of South Bend.

Sharon brings enthusiasm and talent to the Lettershop. Along with Barb Patnaude we have a professional and dedicated team and we look forward to the year ahead as we continue to implement process improvements in the Lettershop.

Join me in congratulating Sharon on herr new role.

Sue Prister