Staff | Alums & Friends | Hobart and William Smith Colleges

CONTACT INFORMATION

The Office of Advancement
775 South Main Street
Geneva, NY 14456

Phone: (315) 781-3700
Email: alumrelations@hws.edu

Office Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Vice President for AdvancementSTEVE CARAHER

Phone: (315) 781-3776

Steve was named Vice President for Advancement in July 2024 and leads the talented Office of Advancement team. Prior to his current role, he served as the Associate Vice President for development and managed the frontline fundraising team, which consists of Leadership Giving, Annual Giving, Stewardship, Parent Programs and Athletic Development. Steve joined the Colleges in 2018 after holding positions at the University of Rochester, Johns Hopkins University and Cornell. Steve earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester and a master’s from Canisius University.
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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 University.
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DEVELOPMENT

Director of DEVELOPMENT and The Wheeler SocietyAngela Tallo Lang ’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

Associate Vice President for Advancement, Principal Gifts JARED WEEDEN ’91

Phone: (315) 781-3782

Since returning to his alma mater 2001, Jared has led the Alumni Relations, Parent Relations and Annual Giving programs. In his current role as Associate Vice President and Director of Principal Gifts, Jared has helped the Colleges realize record breaking fundraising success. In addition to his leadership in Advancement, he’s had stints as the William Smith club hockey coach, announcer for Hobart lacrosse and football games, cast member in an HWS community stage production and a tour guide for visiting VIPs. He’s also been known to lace up his skates and don the Statesman mascot costume at home hockey games. Jared majored in Political Science at HWS, played hockey and baseball, was a member of Sigma Chi and served in the Hobart Student Government and Student Literacy Corps.
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LEADERSHIP GIVING

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 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

Associate 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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Development Assistant Kellie Stiadle

Phone: (315) 781-4935

Kellie joined HWS in 2024 as the development assistant after serving as the coordinator of donor relations at Wells College. She provides support to the Office of Stewardship and Donor Relations as well as the Office of Parent Programs, playing an integral role in building and maintaining lasting relationships with prospective and current donors and parents. Kellie graduated from Bloomsburg University and earned a Master of Science in Education degree from Elmira College.
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ANNUAL AND ATHLETIC GIVING

Executive 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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Associate Director of Annual Giving Jessica Evangelista Balduzzi ’05

Phone: (315) 781-4642

A 2005 graduate of HWS, Jessica returned in 2024 to serve as the associate director of annual giving, working with alums to advance the mission of HWS through philanthropy and engagement, specifically with classes celebrating milestone reunions. Jessica also works to foster a culture of philanthropy and connection to annual giving among current students and recent graduates. She was the executive director of The Spot, a nonprofit organization that provides clothing, food, personal care items and school supplies to children in need within the Canandaigua and Victor school districts. Jessica also previously held positions in the offices of communications and admissions at HWS.
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Director of Development for Athletics MORGAN EWERT

Phone: (315) 781-3956

Morgan joined the Colleges in 2011 as the William Smith lacrosse assistant coach. In 2022, she transitioned to the Office of Advancement as the assistant director of alumni and alumnae relations, focusing on organizing, overseeing, and executing signature events such as Reunion and Homecoming and Family Weekend. In 2024, Morgan became the director of development for athletics, where she works with leadership annual giving prospects, partners with the executive director of annual and athletics giving on sport-specific fundraising and is the point person for volunteer athletic activities. Morgan is the key liaison between the Athletics Department and the Office of Advancement. She earned a bachelor's degree from St. Andrews Presbyterian College and a master’s degree in sport management from SUNY Cortland.
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Leadership Gift Officer Lindsey Dixon

Phone: (585) 455-4441

Lindsey joined the Office of Advancement in 2024 as a leadership gift officer for the Tri-State Region. She previously served as the Director of Development and Communications at the Canandaigua YMCA. Lindsey graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in broadcast journalism, and earned a master's degree in sport psychology from Lock Haven 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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Assistant Director of Annual Giving Communications Madison Nolan '19

Madison's role includes creating, implementing and evaluating a communication strategy aimed towards increasing annual giving donors and alumni engagement. She is also involved with the Annual Fund, Scholarship Day of Donors and Athletic Day of Donors. Madison graduated from HWS in 2019 with a degree in Writing and Rhetoric. She went on to earn a master’s degree in Rhetoric at Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to returning to HWS, she served as a marketing and communications specialist at DevCycle in Toronto as well as a communications support and writing specialist while at Carnegie Mellon.
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PARENT PROGRAMS

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

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

Alumni and Alumnae Relations Associate BRIANNA dewall

Phone: (315) 781-4757

Brianna joined HWS in 2022. She assists in the planning and execution of events both on and off campus, and aids in the planning and initiatives of the Hobart Alumni Association and the William Smith Alumnae Association.
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Assistant Director of Engagement Programming Christal Blighton

Phone: (315) 781-4965

Christal joined HWS in 2024 as the Assistant Director of Engagement Programming. In her role, she provides leadership in planning and execution of special regional events, such as summer swing events, holiday gatherings, tailgates, and faculty lectures and presentations. Her position plays a vital role in ensuring that HWS alumni, parents and students are engaged and feel pride in the HWS community. Christal earned an associate of science in business administration from Johnson & Wales University and a bachelor of arts in psychology from Rhode Island College.
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ADVANCEMENT SERVICES

Assistant Vice President 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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Director of Advancement Systems JEFF DEVANEY ’93, P’21, P’23

Phone: (315) 781-3724
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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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Vice President and Senior Philanthropic AdvisorBob O'Connor P'22, P'23

Phone: (315) 781-3535

Bob O’Connor was named Vice President and Senior Philanthropic Advisor in July 2024. Previously, he served as Vice President for Advancement where he oversaw all alumni, alumnae and parent relations, development and advancement services, as well as the career services office. Bob also 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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