Fardin Sanai was appointed UAlbany’s vice president for university advancement and executive director of The University at Albany Foundation in 2007, with responsibility for all fundraising and alumni relations functions. As executive director of the Foundation, Sanai serves as liaison to its board of directors and oversees Foundation operations including investments, real estate, and governance. In addition, Sanai oversaw UAlbany’s division of communications and marketing 2017-2021.

Since 2011 Sanai has served as chair of the executive committee of chief advancement officers for the State University of New York, working closely with his colleagues and the SUNY chancellor to guide the system’s 64 campuses in their fundraising efforts. He has chaired multiple national CASE conferences on Development for Deans and Academic Leaders, and as a faculty member for the SUNY SAIL Institute, has provided executive coaching for new presidents, provosts, and deans.

Under Sanai’s direction, UAlbany’s advancement program has routinely been recognized for industry best practices, receiving ten CASE Circle of Excellence Awards – including a Grand Gold for best online magazine – and seventeen CASE District II Awards.

Sanai is a board member of 15-Love, a non-profit offering free educational programs for inner city youth, the University at Albany Biosciences Development Corporation, and the University Auxiliary Services.

Prior to joining UAlbany, Sanai served as senior vice president for development and foundation operations at Albany Medical Center, and as vice president of institutional advancement and executive director of the Foundation at SUNY Cobleskill. He began his fundraising career at Albany Law School and spent two years as a fundraising consultant for Morin & Anderson, Inc. Sanai holds a bachelor’s degree from Marist College.

Dr. Helene R. Dillard was appointed dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis in January 2014. Dillard is the chief academic and administrative officer of the college and oversees fourteen departments, 29 centers and institutes, more than 7,400 undergraduate students, 380+ faculty, and 800+ staff. In addition to her responsibilities as dean, she has programmatic responsibilities for the college’s Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension. Dillard has national and international leadership experience, including invited consultations, presentations and scientific exchanges in China, Central America (Honduras, Nicaragua), South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile), the European Union (the Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom) and Zimbabwe.

Prior to her appointment at UC Davis, Dillard was on the faculty at Cornell University from 1984 to 2014 as a professor of plant pathology, carrying a 50 percent research and 50 percent extension assignment. Her research focused on the biology, ecology and management of fungal pathogens that cause diseases in vegetable crops. Her interests include sustainable disease management strategies, integrated pest management, epidemiology and host/pathogen/ environment interactions. Dillard served as chair of the Department of Plant Pathology in Geneva, N.Y. (1997–2001), associate director of Cornell Cooperative Extension (2001–2002), and director of Cornell Cooperative Extension (2002–January 2014). She also served simultaneously as associate dean in two colleges—the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the College of Human Ecology (2002–January 2014).

Dillard was recognized for her contributions in plant pathology by the American Phytopathological Society (APS), receiving the Excellence in Extension Award in 1992 and being named an APS fellow in 2006. She received the New York Farmers Medal and the Outstanding Faculty Award from CALS in 2013. In 2021, Dr. Dillard was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).  Helene Dillard was born and raised in San Francisco, California. She completed her B.S. in biology of natural resources at UC Berkeley, an M.S. in soil science at UC Davis, and a Ph.D. in plant pathology at UC Davis.

Since 2014, Dean Dillard has overseen the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES) Development and External Relations efforts, partnering with development staff to outline strategic priorities and initiatives, cultivate major and principal gift prospects, and secure support that advances the full mission of the College. As an institutional partner, Dillard has served on the Campaign Steering Committee of the UC Davis Expect Greater $2B comprehensive campaign. Under her leadership, CA&ES has secured more than $370 million as part of Expect Greater, supporting numerous college priorities, including student scholarship and experiential learning, faculty endowments and research, as well as capital support and core infrastructure.

Rodney M. Grabowski is UCF’s Senior Vice President for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation, Inc. A passionate advocate for higher education and its power to transform lives, he oversees the university’s fundraising, alumni relations, partnership, communications and marketing efforts. Under his leadership, the Division of Advancement and Strategic Partnerships builds meaningful, fruitful connections that enhance UCF’s impact and result in new sources of revenue to fuel our excellence and unleash the potential of our students, faculty and community.

Mr. Grabowski has more than three decades of experience in nonprofit and advancement leadership, including extensive experience in higher education and health care philanthropy. He is a national leader in the use of artificial intelligence, data-driven strategy and innovative management strategies.

Before joining UCF in September of 2022, Mr. Grabowski served as Vice President for University Advancement with the University at Buffalo. His team surpassed the university’s fundraising goal of $650 million a full year early and increased the goal to $1 billion for the same time period of the campaign — an effort boosted by back-to-back record-setting years for UB.

Prior to his years at UB, Mr. Grabowski was at the University of Cincinnati as President of the University of Cincinnati Foundation, Vice President of Advancement, and President and CEO of the UC Health Foundation. At Cincinnati, he successfully concluded a $1 billion campaign, surpassing the goal by 10 percent. In Florida, he served as the University of South Florida’s Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement and campaign director, where he managed the university’s $600 million fundraising campaign. He also served in fundraising leadership positions at the University of North Florida and at Jacksonville University.

A native of Phoenix, New York, Grabowski holds the prestigious CFRE credential — Certified Fund Raising Executive. He earned an MBA from the University of North Florida and a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from Syracuse University. He is an active member and leader in the Association of Fundraising Professionals and CASE, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. An Eagle Scout, he is active in the Boy Scouts of America

Shontel has served as a development professional at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for over 15 years. She currently holds the role of Associate Vice Chancellor for Development, Chief Strategist for Schools/Units, where she leads a team of development colleagues. In her former role as Senior Associate Dean for Kenan-Flagler Business School, Shontel and her team surpassed a $400 million campaign goal for the School. This goal included securing $75 million to construct a new building, which was needed to match an equal commitment from the North Carolina legislature. Prior to her time at Kenan-Flagler, Shontel oversaw the major gifts team at the College of Arts and Sciences. During her six years at the College, she restructured and led a team of 13 major gift officers and successfully launched a $750 million campaign.

Shontel holds two degrees from Carolina, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Accounting. As a proud North Carolinian, Shontel is honored to serve her alma mater and create positive impact for the greater Carolina community. She works tirelessly as an advocate, mentor, and leader to guide Carolina into the future and create opportunity for those engaging in philanthropy. 

Shontel currently resides in Chapel Hill with her husband, Whitney, and son, Lincoln.  

Annie’s significant experience both at UC Davis and as a major gifts officer at UC San Francisco have made her well suited to support the mission and goals of the college. Annie joined the CA&ES Development and Alumni Relations Team in March of 2021 as a senior director of development, working as the lead fundraiser for the Department of Viticulture and Enology. In 2022 she assumed management responsibilities within the team as managing senior director of development, and oversaw development staff and fundraising efforts in the agricultural and environmental sciences divisions. In her first two years as part of the CA&ES team, she successfully secured just under $7M in gifts to support teaching, research and extension.

Prior to UC Davis, Annie spent ten years at UC San Francisco as part of their University Development and Alumni Relations Office. Beginning as a major gift officer in 2015, she worked with a host of programs within the School of Medicine, securing more than $18M in support for a wide array of activities, including basic translational and clinical research, clinical care, education, social justice and policy work. During her tenure at UCSF, she was also a part of the institution’s successful $6.2B comprehensive campaign, one of the largest ever for a public health-sciences focused university.

Lindsay is the Associate Director of Donor Strategy & Engagement for Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She manages the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Board, partnering with the Dean, senior leaders, and the board’s executive committee to drive strategy, engagement, and giving for the board and the board’s Next Generation Committee. Additionally, Lindsay’s team oversees the School’s Alumni Council and Alumni Chapters with the goal of creating meaningful connections, building the donor pipeline, and securing critical funding from more than 225 leadership volunteers. Prior to joining the Kenan-Flagler team, Lindsay was a frontline fundraiser at Duke University and has managed numerous philanthropic boards during her 13 years as a fundraising professional. Lindsay graduated from Marquette University with degrees in Public Relations, Marketing, and History. 

Kaitlyn Vogt is the Associate Director of Campaigns and Strategy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she helped manage the CASE award-winning, $5B Campaign for Carolina, including assisting the university in reaching its $1B scholarship goal. 
 
Previously, she served on the advancement team at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. While there she worked in many areas of development, including campaign management, donor relations, communications, events, volunteer engagement, and pipeline development. 
 
She earned her master's degree from the University of Mississippi and her bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with her dog.