UR Friends and Colleagues,
I write to share the news that Emily Naff’s last day with the University was January 2, 2024. She has decided to focus on her young family at this time.
We are grateful for Emily’s contributions to the DC team, and we wish her all the best in this next chapter of her life. She will always be a member of the Notre Dame Family!
All the best,
Anita Sareen & the DC Team
Dear UR Family,
It is with bittersweet emotion that I announce the departure of Kat Gardner from the University of Notre Dame.
Kat has been offered an incredible opportunity to serve as the Development Director for the Stanley Clark School in South Bend. She looks forward to leveraging her experience to build a program, contribute to the community, and actively participate in her son’s school and education.
Over the past 8 years, Kat has played a crucial role in University Relations, previously contributing to the Stewardship & Donor Relations team. In March 2023, she transitioned to Associate Director of Leadership Annual Giving, where, in her first 9 months, she successfully raised over $1.9 million in unrestricted cash revenue and closed four leadership gifts (totaling $800,000 in production).
Kat’s determination, leadership, hard work, and wisdom have significantly enriched our collaborative efforts, and her presence will be missed.
Join me in extending the warmest wishes to Kat for joy and success in her exciting new chapter.
In Kindness,
Indi J
Please join me in welcoming Lauren Wertz to the Friends of Ted & Ned, Cavanaugh Council, and President’s Circle Team as the newest Associate Director! Lauren received her bachelor’s and master’s in social work and spent many years as a case manager and supervisor with child services in St. Joe County. Most recently, Lauren served as the Director of Programs for Nurses Inspire Nurses, a vibrant community platform and e-commerce hub focused on cultivating a sense of belonging and empowerment within the nursing community. Lauren lives here in South Bend with her husband, and in her free time, she enjoys staying active (thanks to her Peloton), is an avid reader, and is a lover of plants. Fun fact: she has over 30 houseplants in her home!
With her wide array of skills and experience, we are very excited to have her as part of the FTN/CCPC team! Lauren’s first day was Monday, January 8. Congratulations and welcome, Lauren!
Mary Jane Añón
Please extend a warm welcome to our new Science Academic Advancement Director, Steve Asiala! Some of you may know Steve from his most recent position at the IDEA Center, where he served as the Assistant Director for Research Engagement, and we are so excited to welcome him to Development. Steve received his B.S. in Chemistry from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He then received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Notre Dame. His experience ranges from partnering with faculty and the Academy to driving engagement with the Industrial Biotechnology sector across Scotland, which will serve him in the AAD role. Ask him about his time as a postdoc in Scotland!
As the Science AAD, Steve will be responsible for driving philanthropy to the College of Science, working closely with William K. Warren Foundation Dean and Professor of Mathematical and Quantitative Biology, Santiago Schnell. This position has been vacant since October 2023, so we are excited that Steve’s first day in Development will be Tuesday, January 16, 2024. He will be starting right as Advisory Council Membership preparation and review begins, so he will be spending lots of time at Main Building the first couple weeks. You will get a chance to hear from him during the Winter Spectacular in the Science immersion and meet him throughout the Annual Planning Day.
We are thrilled to have Steve join the team!!!
KO
We are delighted to announce that Blake Rodman and Josey Kronewitter are joining the Leadership Event team as Associate Directors. Blake will support Internal Engagement events, while Josey will work with the academy to support their council events and meetings.
Blake will start on December 18, and Josey will begin on December 20. Both of them are transferring from other University Enterprise and Events teams and are exceptional event managers with extensive experience. They are excited to collaborate with the team and contribute to the success of future events.
Please join us in welcoming Blake and Josey to the team!
Ashley Bennett
Sr. Director of Leadership Events
It is my pleasure to announce Samantha Alcantara as our new Development Coordinator, Membership Experiences, on the Annual Giving team! In her new role, Samantha will respond to all inbound communications from our Giving Society members and other alumni, parents, and friends. Samantha will also assist with other projects, with a focus on stewardship, member renewal, and Giving Society events. Samantha has been with the team since October and has brought incredible energy and joy to the team and our donors that we know will continue!
Please join me in congratulating Samantha!
Conor Montijo
Dear Colleagues,
We hope this message finds you well. We want to take this opportunity to share significant news regarding our colleague, Darrell Paulsen, who will be retiring from his role in development after 13 years within our department and a remarkable 26 years of service to the University.
As a Regional Director of Development, Darrell leaves behind a legacy of achievement, having raised nearly $51M in production and over $5M in unrestricted cash gifts for the University since the start of the Boldly campaign.
His contributions extend beyond financial milestones; Darrell’s mentorship, genuine relationships with benefactors, colleagues, and partners, and unwavering commitment to the mission of Our Lady’s University have left an indelible mark.
In recognition of Darrell’s career, we plan to celebrate his retirement before the end of the calendar year, with more details to follow.
Please join us in expressing heartfelt gratitude to Darrell and his wife, Melissa, for their dedication and service to the University. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.
Warmest regards,
The East Team
Dear Colleagues,
Please continue to use the 2023 Year-End Memo in the upcoming weeks! Page Three is a great quick reference guide for important information. The final pages are the wire instructions and the DTC information (gifting of securities).
Gift Questions at Year End: When you have questions regarding whether a gift has arrived or simply need to alert the team about an incoming gift, please utilize the Gift form. The Gift and Data Management team will update you when these gifts have been received.
PC/CC Gifts: New this year, we ask that you keep CCPC gifts off the above intake form. Instead, please make sure that you have shared your anticipated CCPC gifts with Mary Jane Anon (manon@nd.edu) and her team.
Postal Mail sent directly to Grace Hall/ 405 Mail Building: The Gift and Data Management team will physically pick up USPS, FedEx, and UPS mail from the Hammes Mowbray Hall (the Post Office) daily from December 26 through December 29.
Thank you,
Alyssa
In collaboration with the Office of Institutional Research, Innovation, and Strategy, the Development Office is undertaking a significant effort to implement recommendations and action plans for how we can advance collaboration across the division and the University in stewarding our donors through the For Good initiative and beyond. Caitlin Olivier and Andrew Frye are serving as co-project leads for this effort, and will be reaching out to many members of the Development team in the months to come to participate. Your input and participation are critical to helping us ensure that the stewardship of our benefactors remains unsurpassed. If you have any questions, or want to know how you can become more involved, please reach out to Caitlin or Andrew, or any of us as steering committee members. Many thanks in advance for your participation in this important effort!
Brian Diss, Katherine Lane, and Brandon Tabor
I am excited to welcome Caitlyn Clinton to the Academic Advancement team!
Starting December 18, she will serve as the inaugural Associate Academic Advancement Director supporting the Institute for Educational Initiatives / Alliance for Catholic Education, Notre Dame International, and the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs. She will also provide secondary support for fundraising efforts benefiting Financial Aid and Student Affairs.
In her more than 2 years working for Development – first as the director of ND Listens and, more recently, as a Leadership Annual Giving associate director – Caitlyn has distinguished herself with her passion for Notre Dame and her commitment to her colleagues.
I am extremely excited that she will bring her many talents to bear in this new role!
Please join me in extending your congratulations to Caitlyn!
Matt Gelchion