• Bob O'Connor

    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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  • Suzanne Adams

    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

  • Steve Caraher

    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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  • Jared Leake

    Graduate Assistant for Development

    JARED LEAKE '21

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  • Angela Tallo

    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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  • Kelly Young

    Assistant Vice President for Development

    KELLY YOUNG P’16

    Phone: (315) 781-3783

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PRINCIPAL GIFTS

  • Jared Weeden

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

    Phone: (315) 781-3782

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LEADERSHIP GIVING

  • Julie Kennedy

    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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  • Elizabeth Gundeck

    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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  • Sharon Looney-Armstrong

    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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  • Sarah Russell

    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

  • Kira Consentinto Bennet

    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

  • Dulcie Meyer

    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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  • Ruth Benedict

    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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  • Jessica Evangelista Balduzzi ’05

    Associate Director of Annual Giving Jessica Evangelista Balduzzi ’05

    Phone: (315) 781-2086

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  • Justin Hausner

    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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  • Lindsey Dixon

    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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  • James Morrow

    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

  • Jennifer Murray

    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

  • Jerry Buckley

    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

  • Chevy DeVaney

    EXECUTIVE 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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  • Morgan Ewert

    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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  • Brianna Guererri

    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

  • Karen Reuscher

    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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  • Nicole Trickler

    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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  • Larry Knapp

    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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  • Jeff DeVaney

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

    Phone: (315) 781-3724

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  • Wendy Barnhart

    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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  • Mike Guard

    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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  • Mary Olsen

    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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