Faculty
Conference Co-Chairs
Leslie Carmona
Leslie Carmona is the director of donor relations at Wayne State University in Detroit. She has worked in philanthropy for more than nine years and proudly serves on the executive committee of the local AFP Chapter. She is an experienced speaker with a keen understanding of philanthropy and the field of donor relations. Prior to joining the Wayne State team, she raised funds for the Humane Society of Broward County, the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, and Michigan State University.
She graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in sociology and completed her graduate work at Michigan State University.
Sarah Sims
Sarah has been responsible for building new and innovative donor relations programs from the ground up at three different higher education institutions and now heads the donor relations team at the University of Florida as they embark on the University's first $3B capital campaign.
With more than 10 years of experience in donor relations and frontline fundraising in a variety of higher education and non-profit settings, Sarah focuses on building strategic donor relationships while forwarding the mission of the organization. Her specialty areas include top donor strategy, program development, fund stewardship, and major gift development.
Sarah is a nonprofit consultant and active industry volunteer with positions held on the CASE IV Board of Directors and with the Association of Donor Relations Professionals. Sarah earned her Certified Fundraising Executive(CFRE) in 2013 and is a frequent presenter for CASE, ADRP, DRG, and Academic Impressions.
Faculty
Avery G. Howard
Avery is an alumnus of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s, Herbert College of Agriculture. He began his career at UT in 2013 with the College of Arts and Sciences as a Development Assistant. In 2015, Avery joined the Office of Stewardship and Donor Relations as the Assistant Director of Stewardship.
While learning the operations from the ground up, he takes a great interest in endowment reporting for donors. He has a keen concern for seeking out accurate information for donors. Avery works closely with many units across campus to ensure hundreds of endowments are utilized in a timely manner in accordance with donor intent.
Avery has experience stewarding a variety of campaigns, from annual giving to billion donor campaigns. This experience is one he enjoys to share with others at any opportunity. Most notably with the Association of Donor Relations Professionals.
Megan McAndrews
Megan McAndrews is the executive director of development at Syracuse University overseeing donor relations and campaign project management. Since arriving at Syracuse in 2015, Megan has rebuilt the donor relations program from strategic planning, to staff development, to implementation. She has also coordinated the public launch of Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University. In addition, Megan crafted donor stewardship programs at the University of Vermont and Indiana State University, served as Vice President of the Association of Donor Relations Professionals, and presented on a variety of donor relations topics.
Susan Wright
Susan Wright is the Director of Stewardship at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, a position she has held since 2006. In her 25th year working in institutional advancement, Susan leads a team of stewardship and event professionals to provide a comprehensive suite of pro-active stewardship and donor-centred programs and initiatives for McMaster’s top supporters. Susan’s portfolio includes bespoke principal donor stewardship, events, recognition, reporting and supporting the advancement team on areas of best practice in stewardship and donor relations. Susan has been an active volunteer for the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) and has presented on various topics at numerous CCAE, CASE and ADRP conferences. Susan is a past board member of CCAE Canada and Past-President of CCAE-Ontario.