Denison University Giving
Contact information of the staff from Institutional Advancement, Major Gifts and Gift Planning, Annual Fund, Advancement operations, and Foundation and Corporate Relations.
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Denison University Giving
Greg Bader

Vice President for Institutional Advancement

baderg@denison.edu

740-587-5734

Greg earned a B.S. in education from Bowling Green State University and holds an M.A. in higher education and student affairs from Ohio State University. He currently serves as vice president for Institutional Advancement, overseeing the division’s fundraising, volunteer, and constituent relations efforts. Greg has worked in advancement for more than two decades, most recently as Denison’s associate vice president for Institutional Advancement and campaign director. He joined the Denison family in 2003, previously managing student calling, young alumni programs, and both Reunion and leadership giving.

Billie Handa

Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement

handab@denison.edu

740-587-6730

Billie earned her B.A. in global studies and M.Ed. in educational administration from Ohio University. She has worked as a professional fundraiser since 2006, starting with the American Cancer Society and working her way into higher education at Ohio University, where she served as the director of annual giving. Billie came to Denison as director of the Annual Fund in January 2017. In November of 2020, she was promoted to her current position of associate vice president of Institutional Advancement. Billie loves working with the college’s alumni, families, and friends in support of current and future Denison students.

Kurt Foriska

Associate Vice President for Individual Giving

foriskak@denison.edu

740-587-6733

Kurt joined Denison in 2023 and works with the major gifts team, estate and gift planning, leadership gifts, and prospect development to help connect alumni, families, and generous donors with opportunities to support the Denison experience. Prior to arriving at Denison, Kurt spent 19 years at The Ohio State University in roles that included advising sororities and fraternities, marketing, and fundraising. Kurt earned a B.S. in biology from Allegheny College, an M.A. in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University, and an MBA and a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.

Erin Lovelien

Executive Assistant to the Vice President

loveliene@denison.edu

740-587-5534

Erin graduated from Butler University with a B.A. in digital media production and journalism. After living in Asia for the first six months of her postgraduate life working in corporate responsibility and sustainability, she wrote and published her first two books and checked the 25th country off of her long list of adventures. Erin joined Denison University as an executive assistant in early 2022, where she is delighted to immerse herself in the possibilities of higher education and provide support to Denison’s thriving community.

Vicki Freet

Assistant to the Associate Vice Presidents

freetv@denison.edu

740-587-5330

Vicki joined Denison in April 2023 as the assistant to the associate vice presidents for Institutional Advancement and individual giving. Before arriving at Denison, Vicki spent over 16 years at McGraw Hill Education in senior executive support roles in various editorial departments and, most recently, their human resources department, where she held the title of senior HR specialist. Vicki earned a B.S. in business administration with an emphasis in marketing from The Ohio State University and regularly attends the Ohio State Buckeye football games. In addition to her love of OSU football and tailgating, Vicki enjoys glamping with her husband, Kim, and their long-time friends. She frequently visits local-area and out-of-state wineries with her friends and loves walking with her Goldendoodle, Jax. She is happiest when entertaining family and friends and loves that their home in Thornville is the main gathering place for parties and social events.

Laura Gray Frame ’83

Director of Principal Gifts

framel@denison.edu

740-587-6291

Laura received a B.A. from Denison University and a J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law. Laura worked as an assistant state’s attorney for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Criminal Division, for three years and then as vice president and general counsel for a real estate investment firm for 13 years. Laura returned to the Denison community as a development officer in 2010 and transitioned to her current role as director of principal gifts in 2019. In this role, she nourishes and maintains relationships with Denison’s most loyal and faithful champions.

Hallie Parker

Assistant to the Director

parkerh@denison.edu

740-587-6468

Hallie joined Denison as an administrative assistant for Principal Gifts and Family Philanthropy in January 2023. She is a lifelong resident of Licking County — she was born and raised in Newark. Hallie attended Miami University for college and returned home to Licking County to start her administrative career within the dental field, where her love of interpersonal communication grew. She is passionate about helping people in any way she can and enjoys traveling to new cities, being outdoors, and attending live music concerts while away from work. Hallie currently resides in downtown Newark with her significant other and their two cats, Miles and Mac.

Susan Stoner Leithauser ’90

Director of Development, Parent & Family Philanthropy

leithauser@denison.edu

740-587-5547

Susan’s professional fundraising experience began as a loaned executive to the United Way of Southeastern Michigan as part of her tenure with Federal-Mogul. In her most recent role, she served as the director of development for The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology, overseeing a capital campaign, annual giving campaign, volunteer council, and highly successful other projects and events. Susan held a variety of leadership roles with Federal-Mogul Corporation including customer service manager, human resources manager, and training director while relocating around the country. Her diverse work experience and volunteering for her alma mater led to the role of associate director of alumni relations at Denison from 1999 to 2005, her appointment as senior development officer for parent and family philanthropy and engagement through 2023, and her current position as director of development, parent & family philanthropy. Susan holds a B.A. in communication and media studies from Denison (1990), and she earned a Graduate Certificate (2021) and an M.A. in philanthropic studies (2023) from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. She and her husband, Joe, a fellow Denisonian, reside in Granville. They have three children.

Dave Watt ’85

Senior Development Officer

wattd@denison.edu

203-570-5585

Dave earned his B.A. in English from Denison in 1985, followed by a 30-year sales and marketing career in the advertising and media industries in New York. This included leadership positions with Ogilvy & Mather advertising and Time Inc., as well as internet start-ups. During his tenure at Time, Dave led ad sales for People magazine, served as the publisher of both Health and Sports Illustrated for Kids brands, and was responsible for the company’s corporate ad sales team. More recently, he was director of sponsorship for the Clinton Global Initiative. Dave returned to Denison as a senior development officer in early 2017 and is responsible for working with alumni and parents in the New York metropolitan area, as well as the Philadelphia and Atlanta regions. Dave’s work is based in New Canaan, Conn., but he endeavors to be on Denison’s beautiful campus as frequently as possible.

Jake McNabb

Senior Development Officer

mcnabbj@denison.edu

865-566-4455

Jake earned his B.A. in economics from Emory & Henry College in 2015. Prior to Denison, Jake served as a major gifts officer at Duke University, and most recently, Ohio Wesleyan University. He joined Institutional Advancement in September 2023 as a senior development officer. A native Tennessean, Jake lives and works remotely out of Knoxville. Jake is a fervent believer in the liberal arts, and is honored to facilitate the generosity of Denisonians throughout D.C., Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, and Missouri.

Audrey Wood Hendler ’11

Development Officer

hendlera@denison.edu

847-772-1833

Audrey earned her B.A. in education and psychology from Denison in 2011. Following graduation, Audrey taught English in Nimes, France, for a year and then moved into teaching elementary school at New Canaan Country School in Connecticut. In 2014, thanks to a Denison connection at Northstar Travel Group, Audrey pivoted into the travel industry. She enjoyed a seven-year career at Northstar, first in event marketing and then for the past five years in B2B sales for two of the company’s most trusted brands: Travel Weekly and TravelAge West. She developed strong relationships with her portfolio of clients in the Western U.S. for four years in Los Angeles. Audrey returned to Denison as a development officer in 2022 and is responsible for working with alumni and friends of Denison in Southern California, as well as throughout the Southwest. Audrey’s work for the college is based in sunny L.A., but she loves returning to Denison’s beautiful campus several times a year.

Eva Raymond

Development Officer

raymonde@denison.edu

740-587-5546

Eva earned her B.S. at Ohio University in health service administration. She joined the Institutional Advancement team in February of 2018 in the Annual Fund, where she worked with alumni and families throughout the country. She joined the Major Gifts team in December 2021 as a development officer. Eva is responsible for working and engaging with alumni and families in Northern Ohio, Michigan, regions in Pennsylvania, regions in New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

Gin Deam

Assistant to the Executive Director

deamg@denison.edu

740-587-6258

Gin, a lifetime resident of Ohio, grew up in Bucyrus, a small town in the northern part of the state, and graduated from Wynford High School. She spent many years as a full-time homemaker. As her four children became more independent, she joined the workforce and eventually found her niche in support staff roles. Office management, development, event planning, and administrative assistant are some of the positions she held in a variety of companies over the course of 15 years. Gin moved to Newark in 2019 after living in Marion and Delaware. She, her husband Jason, and their two dogs, Lola and Fritz, enjoy spending time in their backyard, entertaining friends and family.

Jason James Shuba ’02

Director of Gift Planning

shubaj@denison.edu

216-392-2229

Jason assists Denison’s generous supporters with bringing their giving to life in a tax-wise manner that meets their financial and philanthropic goals. He earned his B.A. from Denison in philosophy, politics, and economics and his J.D. from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Jason returned to Denison from the University of Illinois Foundation, where he helped to facilitate more than $120 million in complex, deferred, non-cash, and outright gifts. Previously, he had reinvigorated the American National Red Cross’ dormant Greater Chicago gift planning program. Jason came to the gift planning field after managing the advancement vertical for Academic Impressions, a Denver-based higher education professional development company. Based in Chicago, he keeps an active Illinois law license, runs six days a week, and very much looks forward to connecting with you.

Bill Storch

Associate Director of Gift Planning

storchb@denison.edu

740-587-5019

Prior to coming to Denison, Bill was at The Ohio State University, where he was most recently a senior director of development. During his 10 years at OSU, he was a regional major gift officer and a gift planning officer. Prior to OSU, Bill spent nearly 20 years as a sales and marketing professional. Bill holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois and a paralegal certificate from Capital University Law School.

Marie Thornhill

Director of the Annual Fund and Alumni Giving

thornhillm@denison.edu

740-587-8062

Marie holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in marketing from The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business. She joined the Institutional Advancement team at Denison in May 2023 after spending most of her time at The Ohio State University and OSU’s Wexner Medical Center. Marie’s 20-plus-year career includes various marketing and communications roles to support students, alums, and the broader Central Ohio community, including focused efforts within student philanthropy, parent and family relations, and development. Marie is passionate about continuing to build connections between current students and alums and their alma mater. She is excited to lead efforts supporting the meaningful impact of giving to the Annual Fund on the Denison experience, now and well into the future.

Amanda Morrison

Senior Associate Director, Strategic Philanthropic Support

morrisona@denison.edu

740-587-5773

Amanda earned her B.A. in business administration and M.S. in management from Sullivan University. She has worked as a professional fundraiser since 2009, starting as a student worker at Sullivan University and working her way up to associate dean, where she found her passion for educating students, faculty, and staff on the importance of philanthropy. After Amanda and her family moved to Ohio in 2016, she continued her work in fundraising at the American Cancer Society but quickly realized how much she missed working in higher education. She shifted back to higher education as a member of the advancement team at The Ohio State University, where she successfully raised millions of dollars in support of student success, until she joined Denison in October 2022. Amanda is excited to bring her passion for philanthropy to Denison and partner with alums to help them carry on their legacy by supporting future Denisonians.

Jessie McDonald

Senior Associate Director, Direct Marketing

mcdonaldjm@denison.edu

740-587-5543

Jessie earned her bachelor’s degree in technical and applied studies from Ohio University. She worked for more than 14 years at a public community college, the last five of which were in the college’s foundation office as development coordinator. Jessie joined the Denison team in August of 2017 as the assistant to the director of the Annual Fund. Now, as the associate director of the annual fund, she manages all of the Annual Fund’s direct marketing communications to alumni, family, and friends. She enjoys working in higher education and supporting Denison’s annual fundraising efforts to provide THE BEST college experience for its students.

Ashley Hughes

Associate Director for Advancement Data Strategy

hughesa@denison.edu

Ashley earned a B.A. in history from the University of Mount Union, an M.L.I.S. from Kent State University, and an M.A. in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Oklahoma. She joined the Annual Fund team in December 2023 as the associate director for advancement data strategy. Ashley has more than 10 years of experience working in higher education. She began her career journey as a Community College of the Air Force academic advisor serving airmen stationed overseas in the United Kingdom. She then moved to Okinawa, Japan, where she worked to support sailors and marines through their higher education journey at Central Texas College. Ashley spent the last five years as a communications and technology coordinator supporting admissions and student enrollment at a Central Ohio community college. In her free time, Ashley enjoys cooking, traveling, visiting local wineries and breweries, and bowling with her family.

Sarah Runyan

Associate Director, Reunion and Class Giving

runyans@denison.edu

740-587-8067

Sarah joined the Annual Fund team in November 2023 as the associate director of reunion and class giving. In this role, she connects with alums as they plan their reunions, getting them excited for the future of Denison. Prior to Denison, she worked at The Ohio State University, holding various roles in giving, engagement, and stewardship, all with the goal of connecting alums and donors to Ohio State and to the missions that inspired them. Specifically, Sarah was a member of the advancement team at The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, running the class giving program and helping clients of the Veterinary Medical Center support the hospital and their veterinarians. Before this, she attended and worked for Wright State University in their Office of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving. Sarah is a three-time graduate of Wright State, earning her B.S. in mathematics, her M. Ed. in mathematics education, and her M. Ed in higher education administration. She is a passionate advocate for education accessibility through fundraising and alumni engagement and looks forward to working with alums at Denison. Outside of work, you can likely find her drinking coffee and exploring Columbus with her partner and their dog, Connor.

Jessica Kirsner

Assistant to the Director

kirsnerj@denison.edu

740-587-6292

Jessica joined the annual fund team in November 2023 as the assistant to the director, supporting the work of the entire Annual Fund team. She has ten years of experience in mission-driven nonprofit fundraising, with an emphasis on event planning and stewardship. Jessica grew up in Houston and graduated from the University of Miami in Florida with a B.A. in biology. She has two cats, Peanut Butter and Jelly, and is a gigantic sports fan — especially of basketball! Jessica is excited to join the annual fund team and marry her passion for philanthropy with her commitment to the importance of higher education.

Arielle Kay Johnson

Senior Associate Director, Gifts & Records

johnsonak@denison.edu

740-587-6603

Arielle earned her B.A. in sociology from Capital University in 2016 and her M.A. in higher education administration from Michigan State University in 2021. She has more than a decade of fundraising experience and started her career in higher education when she came to Denison as the assistant director of campus philanthropic programs in 2017. She is currently the senior associate director for gifts and records, overseeing the processing of up to 60 million dollars and all alumni biographical data while assisting in documenting transformative gifts to the college. Arielle believes in the importance of cultivating community and is involved both on-campus and off — she is a member of the Denison Forward IDEA team and leads the Black Caucus, an organization of Black faculty, administrators, and staff whose purpose is to support other Black faculty/administrators/staff and students, at Denison. She is also a fellow of the African American Leadership Academy and Project Diversity Pride Leadership through the United Way in Columbus. At home, Arielle enjoys spending time with her partner and their two cats, Simon and Sameera.

T.J. King

Assistant Director, Gifts & Records

kingtj@denison.edu

740-587-6510

T.J. earned his B.A. in English literature from Ohio University in 2006 and joined the Gifts and Records team as the assistant director of gifts and records in early 2022. T.J. has previous experience in fundraising, having worked with an economic development nonprofit in Athens. He is responsible for gift processing and data integrity, ensuring that gift information and donor wishes are reflected accurately in their records and liaising with the finance department in gift reconciliation. When T.J. is not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.

Cherie Schlatter

Administrative Assistant

schlatterc@denison.edu

740-587-6256

Cherie joined Denison in 2016 in the Human Resources department and moved to Institutional Advancement in 2019, where she supports the offices of Gift Planning, Donor Relations, and Foundation & Corporate Relations. Cherie enjoys being a team player in her support role for the divisions. Before coming to Denison, she worked with the American Motorcyclist Association for many years. Cherie lives locally and was excited to work close to home and in higher education.

Meg Galipault

Director of Foundation & Corporate Relations

galipaultm@denison.edu

740-398-4751

Meg was appointed Denison’s new director of foundation and corporate relations in September of 2016. In this position, she researches and identifies prospects that align with Denison’s funding priorities, institutionally, collaborates with stakeholders to define projects, and writes proposals to request support. She also assists faculty members, in concert with the provost’s office, to identify, write, and submit scholarship and research proposals. Before coming to Denison, Meg was the corporate and foundation relations director at Kenyon College from 2007 to 2016 and managing editor of the Kenyon Review from 2002 to 2007. She has more than 25 years of experience in grant writing, corporate sponsorship, writing, and editing. Meg earned her bachelor of science degree in journalism from Ohio University.

Julie Tucker ’09

Director of Family Engagement and the Denison Professional Network

tuckerj@denison.edu

740-587-5575

Julie recently moved from Denison’s Division of Student Life to the Division of Institutional Advancement to fill the newly created director of family engagement and the Denison Professional Network position. In her role as associate vice president of student life, she oversaw multiple departments within the division, including Orientation & First-Year Experience, the Red Frame Lab, the Ann & Thomas Hoaglin Wellness Center, and Campus Safety. In partnership with the Red Frame Lab, she worked closely with RED Corps, a team of student leaders who use design thinking to solve campus problems, by engaging the voices of fellow students.

Ed Lenane

Director of Alumni Engagement Programming

lenanee@denison.edu

740-587-6563

In October of 2023, Ed took on the role of director of alumni engagement programming. He joined the Alumni & Family Engagement team in November of 2021 to focus on overseeing the Varsity D Association and on developing engagement opportunities and initiatives for all athletic alumni, current student-athletes, and families of student-athletes. Before rejoining the Denison community, Ed spent 16 years on the Alumni Relations team at Ohio Wesleyan University. In addition, he has worked for the College of Charleston (S.C.) and Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Headquarters (Carmel, Ind.), as well as Denison University from 1996 until 2000, where he served as the assistant director of student activities for leadership development. Ed has more than 28 years of experience working in higher education, many of those in university advancement. Ed’s skills and strengths include alumni engagement, volunteer and event management, communication, and strategic planning. He is a dedicated senior leader serving on internal and external committees and boards where collaboration on strategic planning, projects, and initiatives is a key focus. Ed earned his B.S. in secondary education from the State University of New York – Plattsburgh and his M.Ed. in higher education and student affairs from the University of South Carolina.

Alyssa Smith

Senior Associate Director, Marketing & Communications

smitham@denison.edu

740-587-4711

Alyssa joined Denison's Alumni & Family Engagement team in May 2022, focusing on leading strategic communication efforts to best engage Denison alums. Before Denison, Alyssa contributed to client engagement and business development teams at Fahlgren Mortine, an integrated marketing and communications firm, where she collaborated across many teams to enhance outcomes for several clients in the education, travel, and energy sectors. She also worked in a business development and marketing role at the architecture firm Moody Nolan. Alyssa earned her Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University.

Samantha Smith

Senior Associate Director, Advancement and Alumni & Family Engagement Events

smithsa@denison.edu

740-587-5739

In October of 2022, Sam became Denison’s senior associate director for events and conference scheduling in the Office of Alumni & Family Engagement. She came to the Institutional Advancement team from Denison’s Student Life Division, where she had served as the financial wellness coordinator since early 2019. Prior to that, Sam successfully sold the retail business she had owned and operated for more than 10 years after working as a large-scale event planner in Seattle. She holds an M.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Brandi Davis

Senior Associate Director, Volunteer Engagement

davisb@denison.edu

740-587-8024

Brandi Davis brings more than a decade of expertise in events, volunteer management, and fostering donor relationships to her role as the senior associate director of volunteer engagement for Alumni & Family Engagement. Before joining Denison in May of 2024, Brandi served as the director of giver services at the National Christian Foundation (NCF), playing a pivotal role in guiding individuals and families nationwide toward impactful generosity and optimizing tax efficiency in charitable giving through intricate gift structures. Prior to her tenure at NCF, Brandi worked at the United Way of Central Ohio and at Godman Guild in roles that spearheaded volunteer initiatives and showcased the power of community involvement. A proud alumna of Ohio State University, Brandi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration on English and professional writing. Beyond her professional endeavors, Brandi, a Columbus native, and her husband, Nathan, are pet parents to two lively Yorkies, Lucy and Monroe. Her enthusiasm for outdoor adventures, fueled by hiking and cycling, is matched only by her love for fostering connections and spending quality time with her nephews.

Heather Maciejunes

Associate Director, Signature Events

maciejunesh@denison.edu

740-587-8093

Heather holds a B.A. in leadership and organizational communications from Otterbein University and an Associate of Applied Science degree in photography technology from the Ohio Institute of Photography. She has worked in the event management field for over fifteen years, with her most recent tenure as head of special events at the Columbus Museum of Art. Heather joined the Alumni & Family Engagement team at Denison in May 2022 as the associate director of events and experiences. She organizes the two marquee events for Denison: Reunion Weekend and Big Red Weekend. Heather is a Granvillian through and through — her mother is an alumna of Denison, class of ’75, and she grew up in Granville, where she still resides today. Outside work, she enjoys spending time with her two children and parents and is an avid photographer.

Gary Fleisner ’13

Associate Director, Regional and Lifelong Engagement

fleisnerg@denison.edu

740-587-8025

In 2019, Gary returned to Denison University to serve as assistant director of Alumni & Family Engagement, where his primary focus was supporting regional events and affinity programs. In his current position, his responsibilities include planning events and organizing volunteers on a regional basis, as well as fostering lifelong alumni engagement. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Gary held administrative positions in the field of student affairs at both Dickinson College in Pennsylvania and Davidson College in North Carolina, working in the areas of new student orientation, leadership development programming, and student organization advising, among others. Gary earned his B.A. in sociology/anthropology from Denison University in 2013, and he holds an M.A. in higher education and student affairs from Ohio State University (2017).

Sarah Jovanelli

Associate Director, Family Engagement and the Denison Professional Network

jovanellis@denison.edu

Sarah brings a host of higher education expertise and experience to her role as the associate director of family engagement and the Denison professional network. In this role, Sarah helps coordinate and implement alumni professional programming, including the ReMix event series, virtual opportunities for engagement, and regional professionally-focused alumni events. In addition, she also works to organize engaging events that foster connections and a sense of belonging for Denison families. Sarah joined the Alumni & Family Engagement team in March 2024, previously serving as a program coordinator for two learning communities at the University of Vermont (UVM) and as the senior academic advisor and program manager for the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. Sarah spent nine years at UVM and was also able to work on several faculty abroad programs, spending five summers in London, a winter in Belize, and a year teaching in Japan. In 2017, Sarah and her partner moved to Pittsburgh, and in the fall of 2023, she returned to her home state of Ohio with her family. Sarah graduated from Wittenberg University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Sarah worked in Admissions at her alma mater, where her passion for higher education was sparked. Additionally, she holds a master's degree in higher education and student affairs from the University of Vermont. When Sarah is not working, she enjoys exploring the outdoors with her family, listening to podcasts, reading, practicing yoga, baking cookies, and learning more about gardening.

Jen Beckner Steurer ’00

Assistant Director, Event Operations and Logistics

steurer@denison.edu

740-587-6576

Jen earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Denison in 2000 and began working for her alma mater shortly after graduation. She has held various positions at the university, from summer conferences to event management and logistics. Jen has a host of experience within the division of Institutional Advancement and began working in the Alumni & Family Engagement Office in 2006 — she currently serves as assistant director of event operations and logistics, working behind the scenes to ensure that our events run smoothly. Outside of work, Jen enjoys spending time with her two daughters and taking day trips throughout Ohio, exploring what the Buckeye state has to offer. She has two dogs, Roxie and Bobbie, and a bird, Rocco.

Tara Culibrk ’23

Assistant Director, Early Engagement

culibrkt@denison.edu

Tara graduated from Denison in May 2023 with her Bachelor of Arts in psychology. As a student, Tara was a member of the Big Red women’s swimming & diving team, served as team captain, and was a member of the team that won the NCAA Division III national championship in 2023. Following graduation, Tara continued her education and pursued a fifth year of athletic eligibility at the University of Pittsburgh, where she obtained a certificate in digital media and swam for the university’s Division I swim & dive program for a year. Tara returned to The Hill in July of 2024 as the assistant director for early engagement on our Alumni & Family Engagement team. Tara, originally from Serbia, found her way to the United States when she started at Denison in the fall of 2019.

Hannah Secrist

Digital Engagement Specialist

secristh@denison.edu

Hannah joined the Alumni & Family Engagement team as a digital engagement specialist in April 2024. In her role, Hannah works collaboratively with divisional and campus partners to manage, write, and gauge the effectiveness of Alumni & Family Engagement’s marketing efforts. She functions alongside the senior associate director and the Advancement Communications and Marketing (ACM) team. Hannah previously worked as a business development professional with the Cleveland Guardians before joining Denison. A 2023 graduate of Miami University (Ohio), she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in strategic communications with a double minor in human management and leadership as well as architecture and interior design.

Jill Little

Assistant to the Executive Director

littlej@denison.edu

740-587-5659

Jill joined Denison in April 2023 as the administrative assistant to the executive director of Alumni & Family Engagement. Before coming to Denison, she worked as an administrative assistant for eight years, with time spent at Licking Memorial Health Systems and Buckeye Valley YMCA Preschool at Licking Heights. She also taught special needs preschoolers for three years. Jill earned her B.S. in education from Bowling Green State University. She has a small hobby farm in Hanover, Ohio, where she and her family enjoy breeding and raising their own Boer Goats, pigs, chickens, and guinea fowl. Her son shows these animals at the Hartford Fair, and Jill loves to share in learning about the responsibilities of raising and showing animals with him.

Mara Cannon

Program Assistant

cannonm@denison.edu

740-587-8045

Mara joined Denison in January 2022 as an administrative assistant in the Division of Student Life and transitioned to program assistant on the Alumni & Family Engagement team in March 2024. In her role as program assistant, Mara supports the director of alumni engagement programming as well as the director of family engagement and the Denison professional network. She has 20 years of experience in customer service and spent seven years in the banking industry before joining Denison. Mara is a native Ohioan and enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and learning new skills as she and her family develop their hobby farm.

Sara Benedict

Director of Prospect Management

benedicts@denison.edu

740-587-5018

Sara joined Denison’s Institutional Advancement staff in 2017. She currently serves as director of prospect management, having been promoted from her previous position of development research analyst in September of 2022. Prior to coming to Denison, Sara was at the Mount Carmel Foundation, where she was most recently a prospect research analyst. Sara holds a B.A. in music from the University of Illinois and an M.A. in music from Johns Hopkins University. Sara currently lives in Delaware County with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.

Kady E. Wolfe

Associate Director of Prospect Research

wolfek@denison.edu

740-587-5088

Kady joined Denison in 2019 as a constituent records specialist and transitioned to the Prospect Development team in 2021. Before coming to Denison, she worked in the archival and museum field — she spent seven years at the Fairfield County Heritage Association, a county historical society that owns and operates two historic house museums. Kady earned her B.A. in history from Ohio University and received her Master’s of Library and Information Science degree from Kent State University. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their four cats: Wampus, Juniper, Francis, and Georgia.

Billy Boorn

Associate Director of Prospect Development

boornw@denison.edu

740-587-8034

Billy holds a B.S. from The Ohio State University in environmental studies. At OSU, he worked as a student fundraiser in the university’s call center and as a community organizer for a local nonprofit. Afterward, Billy spent several years in a senior sales role with a local mortgage lender. A Granville native, Billy was eager to join the Denison family and return to philanthropic work in December 2021. Before moving to his current position of associate director of prospect development on the Prospect Management team in January of 2023, he served as the associate director of campus philanthropic programs within the Office of the Annual Fund, where he was the project manager of Denison’s yearly Day of Giving and 1831 Day events, while overseeing affinity-based fundraising efforts across campus.

Keena Bait

Director of Advancement Information Systems

baitk@denison.edu

740-587-6638

Keena joined the Denison community in June of 2011 as the systems coordinator in Advancement Services. She holds a B.S. in education from Miami University and brings experience in teaching, as well as programming, to the Institutional Advancement team. In 2019, she was promoted to her current role of director of systems and reporting. Her team serves as the liaison between Institutional Advancement and ITS and is responsible for report writing, systems training, and leading the conversion from the university’s legacy Banner Advancement database to a new CRM, Raiser’s Edge NXT.

Carol L. Ewart

Advancement Programmer/Systems Analyst

ewartc@denison.edu

740-587-6448

Carol earned her Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from The Ohio State University. She has a host of experience in the nonprofit sector and has worked at Denison for over 18 years. Carol joined Denison in the Information and Technical Services division as a programmer analyst and moved to Institutional Advancement on the Advancement Information Systems team in 2019, where she is a database administrator and writes software around Raiser’s Edge NXT. Carol loves learning new technology — she is always excited to play with new systems. Outside of work, Carol owns a motorcycle and ATV dealership with her husband and has a motorcycle certification on her license.

Patrick Pratt

Director of Advancement Communications & Marketing

prattp@denison.edu

740-587-6230

Patrick joined Denison's Division of Institutional Advancement as associate director for digital communications & engagement in January of 2021. In July of 2022, he was named senior associate director of advancement communications & marketing. One month later, he was promoted to director of advancement communications & marketing at Denison, where now leads the promotion of fundraising, volunteer, and engagement efforts among the university's alumni, families, and friends. Patrick came to Denison from Pac/West, a public relations firm in Denver, where he served as an account manager, developing and implementing public relations and information programs for clients. Also in Denver, Patrick worked as a law office business manager and paralegal, as a program manager for the Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry, and as a public policy director and manager of operations for the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce. In 2007, he was elected by voters in the City of Centennial, Colo., to serve on a 21-member charter commission that drafted the first constitution for the municipality. Patrick holds a B.A. in international studies from the University of Colorado Denver.

Kim Byce

Senior Associate Director of Advancement Communications & Marketing

bycek@denison.edu

740-587-6635

Kim is the newest member of the Advancement Communications team, joining as senior associate director in October of 2023. She has been at Denison since May of 2017, formerly serving as the university’s homestead coordinator. Before coming to Denison, Kim was a writer and editor for several publications, including Columbus Monthly and the Columbus Visitors Guide. She transitioned to marketing at The Ohio State University in 2008, focusing on email communication, fundraising, event promotion, web content management, and digital strategy. A graduate of The Ohio State University, Kim holds her B.A. in English.

Brenda Yingling

Design & Project Coordinator

yinglingb@denison.edu

740-587-5061

Brenda attended Columbus College of Art & Design, majoring in advertising and graphic design. She joined the Office of Major Gifts at Denison as an administrative assistant in 2016 and moved the Advancement Communications & Marketing team as project and marketing coordinator in 2022. Before arriving at Denison, Brenda was the marketing and communications manager and served as the executive assistant to the president at Junior Achievement of Central Ohio.

Lily Callander

Assistant Director of Digital Media

callanderl@denison.edu

740-587-6456

Lily joined the Advancement Communications team in October of 2022 as a digital media specialist, and in July 2024, she was promoted to assistant director of digital media. She has a wide range of communications and editorial experience in a number of different settings, including higher education in Ohio and non-profit arts organizations in New York City. Lily earned her Bachelor of Arts in English literature and creative writing and a minor in history from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2022. When she is not working, Lily enjoys reading, baking bread, and searching for her next travel destination.