Colleagues,

Over the past year, we have been gathering feedback from Development colleagues and on-campus leaders and partners on Academic Advancement. While we heard how critical the role of the AAD is to our fundraising efforts, we also heard that the current flat organizational structure of the AAD team has not scaled to match the growth of the field, to foster a talent pipeline, or to serve the units with For Good priorities strategically.

In response to this feedback, we are excited to share a new AAD organizational structure to better serve the fundraising field and our overall Development goals, helping us drive philanthropy to the Colleges, Schools, Divisions, and units.

Effective November 1st, this new organizational structure will include three “verticals”, grouped thematically, led by a newly-created Senior Associate Director role. Each vertical will benefit from a new Assistant/Associate AAD who will maintain a small portfolio while supporting the efforts of the AADs in the vertical. We will be utilizing the proven Graduate Fellow model to support the groups, as well.

We are excited to share the promotion of Ellen Kirol and Matt Gelchion to the role of Senior Associate Director. Ellen has served as Academic Advancement Director for Arts & Letters since 2021, working closely with Dean Sarah Mustillo to launch several College priorities, including the efforts on mental health. Prior to this role, she worked across a variety of roles on Annual Giving, focused on alumni giving and crowdfunding efforts. In his role as AAD for Financial Aid and Student Life, Matt successfully collaborated with 87 different fundraisers to close gifts. A proud co-captain with Ellen of #TeamMentalHealth, he has helped Student Affairs already raise more than double the funds for the purpose of student mental health and wellness in For Good than were raised in the entirety of Boldly.

We will be posting the new roles of Assistant/Associate AAD (commensurate with experience) shortly and look forward to conversations about these three roles. We are currently hiring for the open Senior AAD role, which will serve as the newly-created Senior Associate Director – posting to be out soon.

Finally, please know of our tremendous gratitude for your candid feedback and awesome partnership as we work together For Good!

Gratefully,
Michelle and Katy