Alumni & Development
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First started working at BSU in 1986-1989 and 2019-Present
I provide strategic leadership and direction for all aspects of ϲ's alumni and community engagement efforts, as well as fundraising opportunities. My job is to inspire and motivate members of the greater BSU family to find a place within our community where there can thrive and give back to their alma mater in support of our amazing students. To be able to serve the university that I love leading the Alumni & Development team is a dream come true and I look forward to welcoming my fellow Bears home! "Not to be ministered unto, but to Minister."
A key part of my job most people don't know about that I also serve as the Executive Director of the BSU Foundation board of directors.
Favorite song in college: "Mack the Knife" by Frank Sinatra
First started working at BSU in 2008
As the Director of Operations and Logistics for the Alumni and Development Department, I am responsible for overseeing the management of all the Foundation properties; this includes establishing effective communication avenues with the Division of Operations (DIVO), working with outside contractors and DIVO on facility renovations and new construction, assisting with scheduling, and managing work expectations. I also assist BSU’s Facilities Management (FM) with the Foundation properties in reviewing work assignments, maintenance schedules, performing inspections of work in progress and upon completion, assisting in monitoring property safety compliance, and meeting with FM supervisors as needed.
Favorite Song from College: "Pictures of You" by The Cure
First started working at BSU in 1985-1990 and 1999-Present
My responsibilities include working with staff on all aspects of event coordination. I also work with alumni and members of the university community in event planning, implementation and evaluation.
A key part of my job most people don't know about is that I value the cycle of support from alum to the current student experience. It makes my job different every day and I love it!
Favorite song in college: "Rosalita" by Bruce Springsteen
First started at BSU in 2019.
My primary responsibilities include supporting the Executive Director of the BSU Foundation by managing schedules, coordinating meetings, and managing the day-to-day office activities. I act as a liaison with the President’s Assistant, Vice Presidents and their staff, other university departments, and interact with external agencies.
A key part of my job that people might not know about is that I provide administrative support to the BSU Foundation including attendance at full board and sub-committee meetings. I also provide occasional administrative support to the ϲ Alumni Association board and the Afro Am Alumni Association.
I became a non-traditional student in the late 1990s earning my bachelor’s degree in business in 2003 and master’s degree in criminal justice in 2005. My favorite decade of music is the 1970s and always rock, now considered classic rock! The 1970s left behind a rich legacy that continues to inspire modern-day musicians. I can’t pick just one favorite song or artist!
First started working at BSU in 2000
My responsibilities include taking care of the Alumni & Development, Foundation, and ϲ Alumni Association budgets, travel expense reports and credit card reconciliation for the department.
A key part of my job most people don't know about is that I work closely with Procurement Services and Accounts Payable to troubleshoot any issues with vendor quotes, requisitions, purchase orders and invoices.
Alumni Relations
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First started working at BSU in 1996-2001 and 2020-Present
My primary goal is developing initiatives that will connect our students with alumni. We will do this through a mentor program, our affinity groups, a legacy program, our Crimson Ambassadors, and coordinating various original events as well as attending and participating in established campus-wide programs.
A key part of my job most people don't know about is I will be managing the Crimson Ambassador program.
Favorite song in college: "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
First started working at BSU in 2008
My responsibilities as the Assistant Director are centered on connecting our fabulous Alumni back to the University in support of our amazing students. The key way that I do this is through the planning and execution of all of our in-person and virtual Alumni events. In addition, I provide the management and meeting facilitation for our numerous Affinity groups, plan and support our Alumni marketing initiatives through email and social media channels, oversee the Alumni website, help to create student/alumni programs such as Crimson Ambassadors and ϲ Next Generation, outreach and support for key Development initiatives such as Giving Day and Giving Tuesday, serve on university-wide committees, collaborate with university departments, and handle any general Alumni outreach that comes my way. Relating to our alumni isn't just a job to me, it is second nature because I'm a true Bear at heart! Remember, "Once A Bear, Always A Bear," and never hesitate to reach out if I can be of any help!
A key part of my job most people don't know about is that I am the lead planner for Alumni Homecoming Events. Also, I have been known to help decorate our beautiful Jones House for the holidays, especially foraging greens from campus to fill the front urns!
Favorite songs in college: "Ants Marching" by Dave Matthews Band, "Round Here" by Counting Crows, and "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys
First started working at BSU in 2022
My responsibilities as the Communications Coordinator are to promote, connect, and highlight the various opportunities available to the 75,000+ alumni community and current students at ϲ. In this position, I incorporate content strategy, brand development, and digital media to help navigate the success of major campaigns and events like Giving Day and Homecoming, as well as different networking and gatherings hosted by Alumni & Development.
I am excited to be able to have my first position in my career be at my alma mater, a place that means so much to me as it does our many alumni. BSU has changed my life – literally – and I am excited to connect with as many great people as possible who are also fellow Bears!
First started working at BSU in 2021
My responsibilities include assisting the communications coordinator with managing our social media accounts, updating the website, and creating digital and print media.
A key part of my job most people don't know about is that I assist with monitoring the alumni email inbox. I love interacting with everyone who reaches out to the alumni department!
Favorite song in college: "Nice for What" by Drake
First worked as a Crimson Alumni Ambassador from 2019-2020, Graduate Assistant from 2023-Present
My responsibilities as the Graduate Assistant include assisting with alumni & student engagement events, scholarship & fundraising promotions, as well as updating the department website & streamlining event registration.
A key part about my job most people don’t know about is that I’m pursuing my Master’s in Higher Education Administration, and through this graduate assistantship, I am receiving real-time experience in how a higher education department functions.
Favorite songs in college: “I Wanna Know” by Sickick, “Şımarık” & “Öp” by Tarkan, and “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran.
Development
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First started working at BSU in 2005
Betsy is a graduate of UMass Amherst with a BA in Communications. Betsy joined the ϲ community over 18 years ago as a member of the Alumni and Development team. During that time, she earned her Masters of Public Administration (MPA) with a concentration in Civic and Nonprofit Leadership and Administration, graduating from ϲ in 2011, and she has been a proud Bear ever since!
Betsy provides leadership to the fundraising, development, stewardship and donor relations teams, administering all aspects of fundraising solicitations and donor relations in support of the BSU Foundation and the philanthropic priorities of the university. In her role, she oversees development initiatives at the university, with the purpose of providing critical financial support to students and programs.
With over two decades of professional experience in the development field, Betsy continues to feel fortunate to have the opportunity to connect big-hearted people with meaningful ways they can make a real impact in the lives of others.
Betsy lives on the Cape with her husband, Cory, G'13 (MAT Biology) and their two children, Edwin and Winnie, where when the weather is good, she can be found teaching them the love of kayaking.
First started working at BSU in 2015
My responsibilities include overseeing Foundation and Alumni fund processes, ensuring all funds are spent in accordance with donor wishes, reporting to donors on the status of their funds and donations, overseeing the gift acknowledgment process, and working closely with departments across campus to ensure proper stewardship of all donors takes place.
A key part of my job most people don't know about is that I ensure proper disbursement of all funds, not just scholarship funds.
Favorite song in college: "Crash and Burn" by Thomas Rhett
First started working at BSU in 2011
My responsibilities include executing annual giving campaigns to acquire, retain and reactivate donors. I strategize and manage direct mail appeals, online giving, and fundraising events such as crowdfunding and social media solicitations. I also work collaboratively with partners on and off campus to build and strengthen university fundraising efforts.
A key part of my job most people don't know about is that I work with several students and donors throughout the year to gather testimonials on their involvement with BSU to use for annual giving marketing content. The students and donors are always so appreciative for opportunities and experiences that ϲ has been able to offer for them. Hearing their stories are the best part of working in Development and for BSU!
Favorite song in college: "I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyes Peas
Major Gifts and Planned Giving
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First started working at BSU in 2021.
My responsibilities include working with alumni and friends of ϲ who are interested in supporting BSU philanthropically and help them decide on meaningful ways to do so. It is wonderful to be able to speak to alumni from all decades and listen to stories of their time as a student and how that connection has continued as an alum.
A key part of my job most people do not know about is getting to introduce scholarship recipients to the donors who made that scholarship possible. It is so special to be a bridge between the two and witness the impact that gift had on a student’s time at BSU.
Favorite songs in college: "All too Well" by Taylor Swift and “Beat of the Music” by Brett Eldredge
Advancement Services
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First started working at BSU in 1998
My responsibilities include maintenance of the Raiser's Edge Alumni and donor database, integration with peripheral systems for online giving, event registration and prospect research tools, supervision of gift processors, prospect researchers and data entry assistant as well as serve as a liaison to IT.
A key part of my job most people don't know about is using TeamDynamix ticketing software to manage day-to-day Advancement Services workload.
Favorite song in college: "Black" by Pearl Jam
First started working at BSU in 2018
My responsibilities include carrying out research and database screening initiatives in order to identify sources of major gift opportunities that support the fundraising goals of BSU.
A key part of my job most people don't know about is that the BSU library is an invaluable resource for my work.
Favorite song in college: "Crazy in Love" by Beyonce
First started working at BSU in 2013
My responsibilities include maintaining the Alumni & Development division's constituent management database by organizing a system of identifying, collecting and interpreting data to be entered and accurately inputting new and updated constituent information, generating and exporting lists and reports from the database.
A key part of my job most people don't know about is that I help departments across campus maintain connections with Alumni.
Favorite song in college: "Out on a Limb" by Teena Marie
First started working at BSU in 2006
My responsibilities include processing gift transactions including pledges, planned giving, event registrations, and gifts in kind. I collaborate with fiscal on the accounting, process accounts payable functions for Foundation and Alumni, and also oversee data integrity, reporting, pledge reminders, creating funds, uploading fund agreements, pledge agreements, matching gift paperwork, and any other pertinent information to donor record. I collect mail and process as needed, utilize the Raiser's Edge, Financial Edge, MobileCause, Net Community, Cybersource, and TeamDynamix programs.
A key part of my job most people don't know about is that everything I do has multiple layers that effect different parts of the division as well as the university.
Favorite song in college: "I'm Only Joking" by Kongos and "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" by Cage the Elephant
First started working at BSU in 2022
I process incoming donations and ensure that they are applied to the appropriate fund, appeal, and campaign. I generate and mail out acknowledgment letters in a timely manner. In addition, I help with registration, fees, and donations for events.
Favorite song(s) in college: "No Games" by Serani, "Best I Ever Had" by Drake, and "Pretty Wings" by Maxwell