Welcome to Barnard! You started with the college in July – where did you come to us from and what did you love about your role there?
I’m thrilled to be at Barnard! I’ve recently joined the College after leading the revenue and philanthropic development efforts as the Chief Development Officer for Sesame Workshop (the parent organization of Sesame Street.) I remain grateful for my time at Sesame where I was charged with helping to support their social impact and media efforts to support early childhood education on a global scale.
I’m not supposed to have a favorite muppet — but — I might have had my staff use Count Von Count as the Painting class subject, as my character for my head shot and possibly all of the muppets and licensed products on a wall of my former office!
I come to Barnard after more than 25 years working in the nonprofit sector in New York City. While the College marks my first professional step into higher education, my career has consistently centered on advancing education, culture, and social impact through philanthropy. I began in museum fundraising, working with culturally specific institutions before moving into the broader art museum world. Over the past decade, I was drawn to work that deepens public engagement and access — first in public media at New York Public Radio, where I helped educate audiences on how to live informed, connected lives in New York City, and then at Sesame Workshop, a true dream role that combined my professional expertise with a mission that has inspired generations. Each of these experiences has paved the way to Barnard, where I am thrilled to continue advancing education and expanding opportunities for future leaders.
Your title is the Vice President for Advancement. It’s a new title – why the change?
At Barnard, we shifted from “Development” to “Advancement” because our work extends far beyond fundraising. Advancement reflects the full scope of what it takes to strengthen and sustain Barnard — cultivating philanthropy, deepening alumnae and parent engagement, and elevating the College’s visibility and reputation. While Development traditionally refers specifically to fundraising, Advancement conveys our broader responsibility: building lifelong relationships that advance Barnard’s mission and secure its future.
What are some of your goals with this role?
One of my key goals is to build a sustainable and growing annual revenue program while also determining the timeline for reaching Barnard’s $1 billion endowment goal. Together, these priorities will ensure that Barnard has the resources to thrive in the near term while also securing the College’s long-term financial strength and future sustainability.
You’re no stranger to the greater Barnard community – tell us more about your ties to the community and what made you want to come back?
I was so excited to walk back up the street to Barnard on my first day! My connection to this community actually began in the late 1990s, when my husband
attended Columbia Business School and later began teaching as an adjunct professor in organizational psychology at Teachers College. That role gave our family access to the Rita Gold Center, where both of our children attended toddler care and preschool — we spent many years walking up and down 120th Street, and it feels wonderful to be back. A fun fact about me is that, while I am not a Barnard alumna, I did attend an all-girls high school in Michigan, and I have always felt deeply connected to the mission of educating women. In many ways, that made Barnard a natural and exciting next step in my career.
As you’ve settled into your new role, where do you see the biggest need to support future generations of Barnard students and how can alumnae help?
I’m still settling in — it’s hard to believe it’s only been a couple of months! One of the highlights so far has been meeting so many alumnae, who are incredibly passionate and generous with their ideas about how to support the College. This fall, we have a number of opportunities planned to gather feedback, share our vision, and talk about new ways to strengthen engagement leading up to Reunion in May 2026! We are especially eager to increase alumnae participation in advancing Barnard’s goals — whether through the Annual Fund, Parent Giving, or volunteer leadership.
