Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Phone: (315) 781-3535
E-mail: oconnor@hws.edu
Bob joined Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 1998 as a development officer on the advancement team. Since 2000, he has held senior roles including chief of staff in the Office of the President and secretary to the Board of Trustees. In January 2007, he took on the additional role of director of Campaign for the Colleges before being promoted to vice president for Institutional Advancement in August 2007.
Bob graduated from Gettysburg College in 1991 with a degree in political science. He then went to Michigan State, where he earned a degree in sports administration. He previously worked at Gettysburg College, Michigan State and E & J Gallo Winery.
Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Phone: (315) 781-3545
E-mail: rice@hws.edu
Leila first came to the Colleges in 2002 as the Director of Planned Giving and the Wheeler Society. Prior to joining the Colleges, Leila worked in the financial services industry for more than 15 years in Boston, Mass., and Rochester, N.Y. In 2006, she left HWS to broaden her experience at her alma mater, Syracuse University and later Rochester Institute of Technology. Leila returned to Hobart and William Smith in August of 2010 as the Associate Vice President responsible for the major gifts and planned giving efforts. Leila earned a Masters in Finance from Bentley College and currently serves as President of the New York Upstate Council for Partners in Philanthropic Planning.
Assistant Vice President for Planned Giving
Phone: (315) 781-3714
E-mail: gaffin@hws.edu
Sarah Yancey Gaffin ’78 became director of Annual Support for the Colleges in 1982. Over the next 15 years she held several positions, and was responsible for creating the Colleges’ planned giving program and the Wheeler Society. In 1997, she left to serve in various development capacities at the Rochester Institute of Technology and WXXI Public Broadcasting. In January 2004, she returned to Hobart and William Smith, where she currently serves as assistant vice president for Institutional Advancement.
“I was 27 when I came to William Smith and asked the Dean if I could study here. She was the first of so many people who gave me a chance to realize my potential. I want to give something back in honor of all that these Colleges have given to me.”
Assistant Vice President for the Performing Arts Initiative
Phone: (315) 781-3743
E-mail:olaughlin@hws.edu
Mara O’Laughlin ’66 was director of admissions of William Smith College from 1974 to 1992, and then of Hobart and William Smith Colleges until 2005. She was instrumental in establishing “Frank’s Books” in the Warren Hunting Smith Library on campus—an extensive collection of nearly 11,000 scholarly books from the library of Professor Emeritus Frank O’Laughlin, to whom she was married for 35 years. Mara has also established the Frank and Mara ’66 O’Laughlin Scholarship, which targets middle income students of high promise in their first year. In her role as assistant vice president, Mara shaped the successful William Smith Centennial Fund and is now leading the Performing Arts Initiative.
“I came here from New York City to go to college in 1962 and never left. I was thrilled to lead the William Smith Centennial Fund and now, the Colleges' most pressing need, our Performing Arts Initiative.”
Director of Grants
Phone: (315) 781-3780
E-mail: mbond@hws.edu
Martha Bond came to Hobart and William Smith in 2001 from the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency in Rochester, N.Y., where she was executive director of the health data, planning, and policy organization. She holds a B.A. in political science from Mt. Holyoke College, an M.A. in French literature from Wesleyan University, and an M.P.H. in community health and preventative medicine from the University of Rochester’s School of Medicine and Dentistry. As director of grants, Martha works closely with faculty, administrators, and her colleagues in Institutional Advancement to increase the number of external grants awarded to the Colleges.
“It is wonderfully satisfying to help secure resources to implement a needed project, whether related to a faculty member’s specific area of research or to a broader institutional priority such as endowed scholarships, summer student research, or the Finger Lakes Institute.”
Director of Alumnae Relations
Phone: (315) 781-3532
E-mail: Regan@hws.edu
Kathy graduated from William Smith in 1982 with a major in art history. She completed her master's degree at Syracuse University as part of the Florence Fellowship Program - studying the Italian Renaissance in Florence. She has been at the Colleges since 1985, first in Admissions and then since 1998 in Alumni House, where she is director of Alumnae Relations.
"Imagine being surrounded by great people in an awe-inspiring environment, full of curious minds and intellectual spirit, and being responsible for getting others excited about it. I enjoy being part of a team and a place that is motivated by the challenge and inspired by the possibilities."
Director of Alumni Relations
Phone:
(315) 781-3782
E-mail: weeden@hws.edu
Jared graduated from Hobart in 1991 with a major in political science and returned to Alumni House as director of Annual Giving in 2001. In 2002, he moved across the hall to head our Alumni Relations programs. Jared got his start in development at his other alma mater, The Lawrenceville School, where he served as associate director of The Lawrenceville Fund. Outside the office, Jared assists with the William Smith club hockey team, sharing what he learned as a member of the Statesmen hockey team under then head coach, and now Alumni House colleague, Bill Greer.
“I came back for my 10th Reunion a few years ago and never left! I am grateful to be here now, especially to watch and be a part of the dynamic growth that is taking place on our campus and in the greater Hobart and William Smith community.”
Director of Development
Phone: (315) 781-3701
E-mail: peterson@hws.edu
Casey Peterson, who came to the Colleges from Canton, N.Y., is director of development. Casey started at HWS in 2004 as the assistant director of Annual Giving and became the director of Annual Giving in 2006. Now the director of development, Casey oversees the Office of Annual Giving and the Office of Parent Relations. She also works closely with athletics on giving to athletics generally as well as on the Heron Society and Statesmen Athletic Association. Casey received a B.S. in math and economics and a master's in educational leadership from St. Lawrence University. While at St. Lawrence, Casey worked in the president's office, supporting advancement services, and played on the ice hockey team.
"Attending a small, private liberal arts college was a life changing experience for me. Working at Hobart and William Smith allows me to play an active role in helping to guarantee that same experience to our current and future students."
Director of Leadership Giving/New England
Phone: (315) 781-3779
E-mail: benedict@hws.edu
Ruth C. Benedict came to Hobart and William Smith in 2012 from the Finger Lakes Health Foundation in Geneva, N.Y., where she served as executive director. She has 15 years of experience working in philanthropy and fundraising and previously held a position as senior director of development for the College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University. She holds a B.A. in English from the SUNY-Oswego and an M.B.A. from the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management at Michigan State University. As the director of leadership giving for New England, Ruth is responsible for effectively cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding an assigned group of leadership giving prospects in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
"I am going to enjoy working at The Colleges because our campus is a place where excellence is created, demonstrated and shared every day. That’s exciting! Our students, faculty, staff, donors and volunteers set the bar high for meaningful experiences and achievements – because it matters. HWS has a terrific vision, very important plans and a genuine way of relating to the world. I look forward to meeting and working with HWS alumni/alumnae, parents and special friends everywhere I go."
Assistant Director of Annual Giving
Phone: (315) 781-4069
E-mail: johnston@hws.edu
A native of Olean, N.Y., Justin joined the Colleges in August 2010 as an Assistant Director of Annual Giving. He holds a Bachelors Degree in History and Government from Daemen College and a Masters in College Student Personnel Administration from Canisus College, where he was a graduate assistant in the office of Career Services. Justin's primary areas of responsibility are HWS Connect – the College's telephone-based fundraising program and the Stewardson Society-the College's Senior Gift effort.
"After finishing graduate school, I knew exactly the type of professional environment that I was looking for. As a graduate of a small, private liberal arts college myself, I knew that I wanted to find my way to a similar institutional environment. Working closely with students in my current role at the Colleges is something that is very important to me. I hope that I am someone that they can view not only as a staff member, but also as a mentor, as others during my own experience have been to me."
Director of Annual Giving
Phone: (315) 781-3753
E-mail: einstein@hws.edu
From 1998-2005, Kristen Einstein worked at the Colleges in various capacities for the Reunion Giving and Annual Giving programs. Kristen returns to Hobart and William Smith as the director of Annual Giving after spending 3 1/2 years as the executive director of the Finger Lakes Health Foundation. Her primary focus is coordinating efforts to secure annual support from alumni, alumnae and friends for the Annual Fund.
“Having lived in Geneva most of my life, I am delighted at the progress Hobart and William Smith have made over the years, especially in terms of community engagement. These are exciting times at HWS, and I could not resist the lure to be a part of it all once again! As the Colleges continue to advance, so too does the challenge for Institutional Advancement. I am thrilled to be a part of such a talented team of colleagues and the many students, faculty, alumni, alumnae, parents and friends who collaborate to make great things happen.“
Director of Parent Relations and Stewardship
Phone: (315) 781-3783
E-mail: KeYoung@hws.edu
Kelly Young, director of Parent Relations and Stewardship, worked at Hobart and William Smith Colleges as part of the advancement team from 1985 to 1997 before making a move to Rochester Institute of Technology in 1997. There, she was the development associate for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. She returned to the Colleges in 2001 to accept a new position as the director of Donor Relations. Young took over management of the parent relations program in November 2011.
“Coming back to Hobart and William Smith was like coming home. In my position, I get to work with students, parents, families, faculty, staff and donors. I love reporting on all the good things happening at the Colleges, and I have a daughter in college and a son who is about to go, so I have a very good grasp on the things that parents need and want to know."
Assistant Director of Alumni and Alumnae Relations
Phone: (315) 781-3721
E-mail: DMeyer@hws.edu
After achieving her undergraduate degree in sociology from St. John Fisher College, Dulcie worked in her hometown of Rochester, NY, at the Monroe Community College Foundation. In 2005, she joined the Colleges' Institutional Advancement staff as a major gifts and reunion giving program administrator. In 2007, she was promoted to her current position as the assistant director of Alumni and Alumnae Relations. Dulcie works closely with the regional clubs to help plan club activities and events throughout the country.
"I have always known Hobart and William Smith to be an exceptional institution, and I am honored to now be a part of the HWS community. Working with alumni and alumnae who feel so passionately about their alma maters has developed into an inspiring career for me, and I look forward to continue building upon the strong volunteer networks throughout the country."
Director of Reunion and Class Campaigns
Phone: (315) 781-4068
E-mail: beaver@hws.edu
A native of Williamsville, NY, Skylar graduated from William Smith College in 2008 with a B.A. in sociology and joined our staff in July 2008. During her collegiate career, Skylar was a member of the William Smith field hockey team and served as president of the club ice hockey team. Skylar got her start in development as an intern with the Annual Fund team and quickly realized Alumni House was the place for her to start her career. Starting as the assistant director of Annual Giving, working with young alumni and alumnae, Skylar was subsequently promoted to the associate director of Annual Giving working with Reunion Classes to enhance their class gifts to the Annual Fund. In her current role as Director of Reunion and Class Campaigns she is responsible for working with fundraising volunteers who are celebrating milestone Reunions along with Class Agents from non-Reunion years. Still an active member of the HWS community, Skylar is an assistant coach with the Heron field hockey team and volunteers as coach of the William Smith club field hockey and ice hockey teams.
"After a wonderful undergraduate experience, staying at Hobart and William Smith Colleges was an obvious decision. I can't think of any other place I would rather be but here- advancing the lives of students through the generous and philanthropic gifts of alums."
Assistant Director of Annual Giving
Phone: (315) 781-4069
E-mail: fratto@hws.edu
Matt joined Hobart and William Smith Colleges in October 2011. He holds a bachelors degree in management from Keuka College. Prior to his arrival, Matt served eight years in the Navy, including two deployments and duty station stints in Norfolk, Va., and Boston, Mass. Matt also worked in the business development and banking fields before joining the Colleges. His primary responsibilities include managing HWS Connect, the College’s telephone-based fundraising program, and The Stewardson Society, the Senior Classes Gift effort.
"I was raised in Geneva, and I have always held Hobart and William Smith Colleges in the highest regard. The opportunity to return to my hometown and be a part of such dynamic institutions is a privilege. I look forward to growing professionally within the Colleges and supporting our institutional advancement."
Major Gifts Officer
Phone: (315) 781-3776
E-mail: foster@hws.edu
Benjamin (Ben) Foster, major gifts officer, joined the Colleges in 2003 as director of Reunion Campaigns and became major gifts officer in 2007. He came from Tufts University, where he was the associate director of the Tufts Fund for Arts, Sciences and Engineering, and coach of men’s rowing. A Hobart graduate, Ben served for two years as the assistant rowing coach for Hobart and William Smith before moving on to become head rowing coach at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania. Ben received his master’s degree from Boston College while coaching at Tufts University. He entered the development field shortly thereafter, when he accepted the position of associate director of the Tufts Fund for Arts, Sciences and Engineering.
“I loved my four years at Hobart and William Smith and jumped at the opportunity to return. I have fond memories from my time at the Colleges, and enjoy working with alums to build upon and honor their memories from this special place.”
Date: 2/16/2012 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM Join alumni, alumnae, parents and friends for a luncheon with President Mark D. Gearan. More >>
Date: 3/22/2012 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Join alumni, alumnae and parents for a reception with President Mark D. Gearan. More >>
Date: 3/24/2012 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM Join alumni, alumnae, parents and friends for a pre-game gathering. More >>
Date: 3/31/2012 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM Join alumni, alumnae, parents and friends for a pre-game gathering. More >>
Date: 8/18/2012 to 9/1/2012
Join Jack Harris P'02, P'06, Professor of Anthropology and Sociology for cultural tour to Vietnam - including Hanoi, Halong Bay, Mai Chau, Saigon and surrounds.
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