Alums & FriendsContact Us
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Vice President for AdvancementBob O'Connor P'22, P'23
Phone: (315) 781-3535
Bob O’Connor was named Vice President for Advancement in July 2007. He directs the advancement operation and oversees all alumni, alumnae and parent relations, development and advancement services, as well as the career services office. Previously, he served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the President and Secretary to the Board of Trustees, and was instrumental in coordinating the HWS 2005 and HWS 2010 strategic planning initiatives and served as a member of the campaign steering committee. O’Connor successfully led and completed the second half of Campaign for the Colleges, a $205 million comprehensive capital campaign. After graduating from Gettysburg College with a bachelor’s in political science, O’Connor earned a master’s in sports administration from Michigan State University. He previously worked at Gettysburg College, Michigan State University, and E and J Gallo Winery.
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Assistant to the Vice President for AdvancementSUZANNE ADAMS
Phone: (315) 781-3740
Suzanne joined the Colleges in 2015 as an accounting generalist. In 2020, she moved into her current role where she provides administrative support to the Vice President for Advancement, coordinating the department's overall budget and managing Unimarket. Suzanne graduated from Nazareth College.
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DEVELOPMENT
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Associate Vice President for DevelopmentSTEVE CARAHER
Phone: (315) 781-3776
Stephen joined the Colleges in 2018 after holding positions at the University of Rochester, Johns Hopkins University and Cornell. As the associate vice president for development, he manages the frontline fundraising team, which consists of Leadership Giving, Annual Giving, Stewardship, Parent Programs and Athletic Development. Stephen earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester and a master’s from Canisius College.
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Director of DEVELOPMENT and The Wheeler Society ANGELA TALLO ’05
Phone: (315) 781-3545
Angela graduated from William Smith in 2005 before moving on to Suffolk University to complete a master's degree in financial services and banking. She returned to the Colleges in 2020 after serving in roles in financial services, wealth management and as an assistant director of planned giving at Boston University. Angela currently oversees the planned giving program and The Wheeler Society, the Colleges' legacy gift recognition society and works closely with Alumni and Alumnae Relations on 45th and 50th Reunion events.
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PRINCIPAL GIFTS
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Associate Vice President for Advancement, Principal Gifts JARED WEEDEN ’91
Phone: (315) 781-3782
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LEADERSHIP GIVING
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Director of Major Gifts
JULIE KENNEDY P’12, P’15, P’19
Phone: (847) 420-3169
Julie joined the Colleges in 2016 as the director of leadership giving and began her current role as the director of major gifts in 2022. She manages a team of leadership gift officers while also serving as a frontline fundraiser, working with Hobart and William Smith alums and parents to advance the mission of the Colleges through philanthropy and engagement. Prior to HWS, Julie was the director of campaign and events at Lake Forest Academy and worked as a brand manager at Kraft Inc. She graduated from Emerson College and completed an M.B.A. at Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
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Director of Leadership Giving MEGHAN BRENNAN ’94
Phone: (315) 781-3185
After graduating from William Smith in 1994, Meghan returned to the Colleges in 2022 as a director of leadership giving. She serves as a frontline fundraiser working with HWS alums and parents from the tri-state area of New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. Prior to returning to HWS, Meghan was the director of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 125 Thoreau Tennis Open, where she developed strategies to secure sponsorship for the WTA.
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Senior Director of Development for Athletics MIKE CRAGG
Phone: (315) 781-3566
A 1983 graduate of Slippery Rock University, Mike joined the Hobart College athletics staff as an assistant football coach in 1986. He served as a baseball assistant coach and head coach of HWS tennis before serving as the head coach of football from 1995-2017. Currently, Mike oversees giving in support of HWS athletics, coordinating efforts for the annual Athletics Day of Donors while also serving on Statesmen Athletic Association and Heron Society Boards. Additionally, he assists with athletics alum events, including the Hobart Hall of Fame and William Smith Hall of Honor.
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Director of Leadership Giving ELIZABETH GUNDECK
Phone: (845) 264-2098
A Colgate graduate, Elizabeth joined HWS in 2021. She currently serves as a frontline fundraiser working with HWS alums and parents from the tri-state area of New York to advance the mission of the Colleges through philanthropy and engagement
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Director of Leadership Giving SHARON LOONEY-ARMSTRONG
Phone: (413) 320-2275
Sharon joined the Colleges as a director of leadership giving in 2022 after serving as a philanthropic officer at Smith College. She is a frontline fundraiser, working with alums and parents to advance the mission of the Colleges through philanthropy and engagement, specifically in the New England region. Sharon is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College.
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Director of Leadership Giving Sarah Russell
Phone: (765) 617-9906
Sarah joined the Colleges’ Office of Advancement in 2023, where she serves as Director of Leadership Giving for the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. As a frontline fundraiser, Sarah works with alumni and parents to advance the Colleges’ mission through philanthropic giving and engagement. Sarah comes to the Colleges after serving as Director of Development for Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families and the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs. Prior to her career in higher education, Sarah worked in Washington, D.C., and across the country fundraising for campaigns, committees and PACs. Sarah is a graduate of Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., where she received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Political Science.
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STEWARDSHIP
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Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations MICHELLE ROBBINS
Phone: (315) 781-3508
A graduate of Keuka College, Michelle joined the Colleges in 2015. She oversees donor relations and stewardship to enhance and deepen long-term, collaborative relationships. Michelle comes from a non-profit background, serving in several local organizations throughout the Finger Lakes region.
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Assistant Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations KIRA COSENTINO BENNETT ’15
Phone: (315) 781-3771
Kira graduated from William Smith in 2015. She is currently responsible for supporting the Colleges' fundraising efforts and building relationships with prospective and current donors through special events, stewardship, acknowledgments, donor recognition programs and regular communications to keep donors informed about the use and impact of their gifts. Kira began working at HWS in 2018 as an administrative support assistant in the Office of Alumnae Relations.
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ANNUAL AND ATHLETIC GIVING
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Director of Annual and Athletic Giving DULCIE MEYER P’20
Phone: (315) 781-3082
Dulcie has served in several roles in the Office of Advancement since starting at HWS in 2005. She currently oversees the entire Annual Giving program including goal setting, benchmarking, recognition of volunteers and donors, volunteer recruitment, training and support. Dulcie holds a BA in sociology from St. John Fisher College.
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Director, Emerson Society Programs RUTH C. BENEDICT GP’22
Phone: (315) 781-3779
Ruth has worked in the Office of Advancement since 2012. Prior to that, she had a career in journalism, editing and publishing. She served as vice president of communications at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, as a major gift fundraiser for the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education at Syracuse University and as the executive director of the Finger Lakes Health Foundation. Currently, Ruth directs annual giving and staffs a committee of volunteers for the Emerson Society. She holds a BA from SUNY Oswego and an MBA from Michigan State University.
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Assistant Director of Annual Giving Communications JUSTIN HAUSNER
Phone: (315) 781-4735
Justin joined HWS in 2022 after serving as a manager of marketing and public relations at Mozaic. He graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2008 and is currently pursuing a master's degree in management at Keuka College. Justin is responsible for supporting and implementing successful broad-based solicitation campaigns in support of the Annual Fund.
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Leadership Gift Officer JENNIFER TUFANO
Phone: (315) 781-3671
Jennifer is responsible for raising leadership gift level funds for the Annual Fund, focusing on the tri-state region. She joined the Colleges in 2015 as an assistant in the Office of Spiritual Engagement and moved into her current role in 2022. Jennifer is a graduate of Nazareth College and earned a master's degree from Seattle University.
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Leadership Gift Officer James Morrow
James joined the Office of Advancement in 2023 as a leadership gift officer, responsible for raising leadership gift level funds for the Annual Fund. James previously held various teaching, leadership and fundraising positions at independent schools for 29 years. James earned a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, and a M.S.Ed. and Ed.M. from Bank Street College of Education.
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PARENT PROGRAMS
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Director of Parent Programs JENNIFER MURRAY
Phone: (315) 781-4068
Jennifer joined the Colleges in 2018. She supports special family programming for events including new student Orientation, Commencement, and Homecoming and Family Weekend. Jennifer also works with parents in volunteering and philanthropy efforts for the Colleges.
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GRANTS
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Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations and Legislative Affairs JERRY BUCKLEY P’15
Phone: (315) 781-3701
Jerry helps oversee the Geneva Scholarship Association and Geneva 2030 Community Education Partnership. Before joining HWS in 2016, he served as the senior vice president of public affairs at the Campbell Soup Company, Chairman of the Campbell Soup Foundation, CEO of the Pennsylvania SPCA, a senior editor of U.S. News & World Report and bureau chief of Newsweek Magazine. Jerry holds a master’s degree from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree from Fordham.
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ALUMNI AND ALUMNAE RELATIONS
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Director of Alumni and Alumnae Relations CHEVY DEVANEY ’95, P’21, P’23
Phone: (315) 781-4069
As the director, Chevy oversees a comprehensive program to establish and enhance meaningful relationships with alums through broad-based engagement initiatives. She develops and manages outreach for on and off campus events including Reunion and Homecoming; serves as the campus liaison for the leadership of the Hobart Alumni Association and the William Smith Alumnae Association; and is a member of the Heron Society Board. Chevy is a 1995 graduate of William Smith.
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Assistant Director of Alumni and Alumnae Relations MORGAN EWERT
Phone: (315) 781-3956
Morgan joined the Colleges in 2011 as the William Smith lacrosse assistant coach. In 2022 she moved into her current role, where she organizes, oversees and executes signature events such as Reunion Weekend and Homecoming Weekend. Morgan also serves as a contact for alum inquiries related to volunteer efforts. She graduated from St. Andrews Presbyterian College and earned a master of science in sport management from SUNY Cortland.
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Alumni and Alumnae Relations Associate BRIANNA GUERERRI
Phone: (315) 781-4757
Brianna assists in the planning and execution of events both on and off campus, and helps respond to alum phone calls and emails. She joined HWS in 2022 and expects to graduate from William Smith in 2024.
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ADVANCEMENT SERVICES
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Executive Director of Advancement Services KAREN ILACQUA REUSCHER ’88, P’17
Phone: (315) 781-3722
Karen graduated from William Smith and has worked for the Colleges since 1990. She has held several roles, including as a senior prospect researcher, assistant director and a director. Currently, Karen manages the advancement services team who provide expert service regarding the integrity and accuracy of the advancement database including biographic records, gift accounting, acknowledgements, prospect research, prospect management, data analysis and database training.
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Director of Strategic Research and Prospect Development NICOLE GILLOTTI TRICKLER
Phone: (315) 781-3723
Nicole joined the Office of Advancement in 1998 as a prospect researcher. In her current role, she serves as a strategic leader for prospect management, research and discovery and leads a team that develops and implements policies and standards for donor/prospect research projects with a primary focus on major and principal gifts. Nicole holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from RIT.
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Associate Director of Biographical Records LARRY KNAPP
Phone: (315) 781-3739
Larry maintains the Colleges’ database for biographical records and coordinates records changes, and produces internal and external fundraising reports. He joined HWS in 1990 and previously served as a gift office manager and an alum data analyst. Larry holds an MBA from the University of Rochester.
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Associate Director of Gift Accounting WENDY BARNHART
Phone: (315) 781-3725
Wendy joined HWS in 2007. She oversees gift processing including cash, stock, property, crypto currency and art. Wendy also oversees the creation of the acknowledgements. She earned degrees in secretarial science, criminal justice and accounting from Finger Lakes Community College.
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Assistant Director of Strategic Research and Prospect Development MIKE GUARD
Phone: (315) 781-3079
After working for the City of Geneva Recreation Department, Michael came to HWS in 2016 as an acknowledgment coordinator and prospect researcher. He began his current role in 2022. Michael is a graduate of Alfred University.
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Assistant Director of Strategic Research and Acknowledgement Administrator MARY OLSEN
Phone: (315) 781-4523
Mary joined the Colleges in 2022. She collaborates with a prospect research team to develop, maintain, refine and enhance all aspects of a comprehensive research function that meets the evolving needs of the Colleges' advancement and development programs. Mary also manages the planning and development of the gift acknowledgement process. She attended Finger Lakes Community College.
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