Contact Us

Joshua Else
Senior Vice President for University Advancement

Email: joshua.else@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-627-6001

Joshua joined Tufts on February 5, 2024, from Johns Hopkins University, where he held the position of associate vice president for Development and Alumni Relations for nearly nine years. Previous positions at that institution included associate dean for External Affairs at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and associate dean for External Affairs at the Sheridan Libraries and University Museums. Joshua came to Hopkins in May of 2005 from the American Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was director of Major Gifts. Prior to that appointment, he was general manager of a publishing company in Hawaii. Joshua's fundraising career began at Wake Forest University where he was the director of Annual Support and director of Development at the university’s School of Law. Joshua is a graduate of Wake Forest University and earned an M.B.A. from the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. 

Sara Judge
Vice President of Development

Email: sara.judge@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-627-4426

Sara is vice president of development, overseeing the fundraising and campaign management teams, and is a key strategic partner in leading fundraising across the university. Prior to joining Tufts in 2020, Sara was deputy vice president of development at Princeton. Sara also served as president of China Institute in America, the oldest U.S.-China organization in the U.S., and as global director at Avenues: The World School, managing operations in China. After graduating from Princeton with a degree in East Asian Studies/Chinese, Sara studied at Peking University and worked at a consulting firm in Beijing for four years.

Brooke Anderson
Associate Executive Director, University Advancement

Email: brooke.anderson@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-627-4975

Brooke is Associate Executive Director of University Advancement, overseeing Gift Planning and Advancement Gift Acceptance and Administration. Brooke is working with these teams to expand opportunities for gifts of non-cash assets and tax-efficient gifts from donors outside of the U.S., provide division-wide training for planned and complex asset gifts, and secure such gifts through individual fundraising. Brooke served as the Senior Director of Gift Planning for 11 years and held various gift planning roles working with The Fletcher School, the School of Engineering, and the Friedman School since arriving at Tufts in 2006. Brooke has worked in development roles since 1999. She is a recent past President of the Planned Giving Group of New England (PGGNE) where she currently co-chairs its DEI Committee. A graduate of Middlebury College, Brooke lives with her husband Morgan in Winchester, MA.

Marah Atwell (she/her) is responsible for the data and information systems in University Advancement. She is the director of the Advancement Information Systems (AIS) team. The Advancement Gift and Information Services (AGIS) also reports into Marah. She is leading the AIM Project, the project to replace Advance with a Salesforce-based application called ascend. Marah lives in Medford and works at 80 George Street.

Sean Devendorf
Executive Director of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving

Sean began his career at Tufts University in 2007 at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, where he held various roles focused on alumni engagement, annual giving, and major gifts. In April 2015, he transitioned to the role of Senior Director of Annual Giving, overseeing annual giving efforts across the university and leading initiatives to modernize marketing and outreach strategies.

In July 2024, Sean took on a new role as the Executive Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving, working to align the two areas and create a more cohesive alumni engagement and giving experience.

Before joining Tufts, Sean served as the Director of Alumni Relations and Associate Director of Development at Rumsey Hall School in Washington Depot, CT. He is a 2003 graduate of Vassar College, where he studied sociology and economics, and earned a certificate in Applied Positive Deviance from the Friedman School in 2012.

Nancy Mahler, J88
Executive Director of University Advancement

Email: nancy.mahler@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-627-5483

Nancy is Executive Director of University Advancement, overseeing fundraising for the Schools of Arts and Sciences and Engineering, Tisch College of Civic Life, the Fletcher School, and Gift Planning.  Previously, Nancy was the senior director of development for the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts.  She brings more than 25 years of experience to the role. Nancy joined Tufts in 2013 from Kaspick & Company, where she was a relationship manager after serving as a vice president at State Street Global Advisors. In both positions, she worked with nonprofits on the planning and investment of their planned giving programs and consulted on complex gifts. She received a BA in political science, magna cum laude, from Tufts and a JD from Boston University School of Law.

Jonathan Schwartz
Executive Director of Campaign Management

Email: jonathan.schwartz@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-627-0632

Jonathan is executive director of campaign management and oversees the Brighter World campaign. Prior to joining Tufts in 2014, he was senior associate vice president for advancement and director of university campaigns at the University of Rochester. Jonathan previously served as assistant vice president for development and senior director of capital projects at Washington University in St. Louis. He started his career in advancement at Caltech. A graduate of Georgetown, Jonathan also holds a master’s degree in radio, television, and film studies from Northwestern.

Rebecca Scott
Executive Director, University Advancement

Email: rebecca.scott@tufts.edu.
Phone: 617-636-2777

As Executive Director, Rebecca oversees the development and alumni engagement functions for the School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, as well as University Advancement's Corporate and Foundation Relations. Previously, she was the senior director of development and alumni relations at the School of Medicine and, before that, she was Tufts’ director of gift planning. A graduate of McGill University, Rebecca was the general manager of Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal. Rebecca completed a residency in new media design at the Canadian Film Centre and was a co-founder of the interactive marketing company, Trapeze Media.

Kristen Watson joined Tufts in March 2013. She is responsible for the overall operation of the Prospect Development team, comprised of prospect research, prospect management, due diligence and analytics. She also oversees the UA Operations team, including budget management, human resources, space planning/facilities management and professional development. Kristen joined the prospect research field in 2003 at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and continued her career at Northeastern University before joining Boston College in 2008. Kristen is an active member of APRA and NEDRA. She graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern University, with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism with a concentration in public relations. In 2007 she earned a master’s degree in leadership with concentration in non-profit management also from Northeastern University.

Jeffrey P. Winey, AG90, A22P
Senior Director, Principal Gifts and University Initiatives

Email: jeff.winey@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-627-5468

Jeff, AG90, A22P, is senior director of Principal Gifts and University Initiatives and oversees the University Gift Officer and Asia Relations teams and the Principal Gifts Donor Relations and Stewardship staff. He also manages the Tufts Financial Network and its advisory committee and the President’s Council. Jeff, who has 29 years of experience working for University Advancement, is a former annual fund director and previously worked at Bowdoin College and Babson College. A graduate of Bowdoin, Jeff also holds a master’s degree in urban and environmental policy from Tufts.

Ippolita Cantuti-Castelvetri
Senior Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations

Email: ippolita.cantuti_castelvetri@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-627-6696

Ippolita has served as senior director of Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) since 2016 after three years as associate director of CFR for the Tufts University School of Medicine. Prior to joining Tufts, Ippolita was associate director of preclinical research and development at NeuroPhage Pharmaceuticals, and assistant professor of neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital. She earned an MS in biology from the University of Rome/La Sapienza, and a PhD in experimental psychology from Tufts. Ippolita has co-authored more than 30 papers in peer-reviewed journals and books.

Carmen Tordiglione

Email: carmen.tordiglione@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-627-3616

Carmen arrived at the Tufts Gift Planning Office in May 2019. She supports the School of Arts & Sciences and works with Communications & Marketing on university-wide gift planning marketing efforts. She began her fundraising career in 1998 in health care, including Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital before transitioning to higher education. She came to Tufts from Harvard Business School. She has focused on gift planning throughout her career, working with donors on estate gifts, life income gifts, and gifts of assets, ranging from privately held stock and real estate to jewelry and artwork.

Matt Scheck
Senior Director of Arts & Sciences Development

Email: matthew.scheck@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-627-4315

Matt joined Tufts in 2013. As director of development, he oversees the major gifts team for the School of Arts and Sciences, manages relationships with alumni across the country, and serves as the primary University Advancement liaison for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. He has worked in development for more than 15 years, previously holding positions at Manhattanville College and UC Berkeley. He is an undergraduate alumnus of Colby College and received his MPA at New York University. His wife is also a member of the Tufts community, as a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry.

Leila Rice
Senior Director of Development - Engineering

Email: leila.rice@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-627-4512

Leila is Sr. Director of Development for the School of Engineering and Parents Giving Program. Leila has more than 20 years of development experience most recently as VP for Development and Special Assistant to the President at Merrimack College. She also served in a leadership role at Hobart and William Smith Colleges and was Director of Gift Planning at Syracuse University and Rochester Institute of Technology. She is a graduate of Syracuse University and earned her MS in Finance from Bentley University.

Kelly Fantegrossi
Director of Development

Email: kelly.fantegrossi@tufts.edu

Kelly joined the SMFA at Tufts in 2022 as the Director of Development. Kelly focuses on strategically expanding a broader audience to support the SMFA annual fund, endowment, art sale, and strategic priorities for the future. Prior to taking on this role, she has worked over the past 25 years in major gifts and annual fund strategic planning, leadership development, capital campaign planning, and fundraising program implementation supporting non-profit organizations in the higher education, independent school, charter school, and arts and cultural sectors. 

Deeply passionate about the critical importance of access to high-quality educational opportunities for all types of learners, social-emotional learning, and social justice practices to transform the lives of children and adults, regardless of their background, Kelly is a mission-driven fundraiser who finds creative and meaningful ways to engage support.

Kelly has a BA in Art History and History from Florida State University and a MA in Arts Administration from Boston University. An avid yoga practitioner, Peloton rider, gardener, traveler, reader, and amateur photographer, she fills her weekends with her family and getting out to engage with nature and art as much as possible.   

Mark Adzigian, A88
Director of Development for Athelics

Email: mark.adzigian@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-627-0376

Mark is responsible for raising funds to support annual operating needs, endowments, and capital projects in the Department of Athletics. Prior to Tufts, he was the general manager for Atlantic Hockey Sports Properties, and also spent 15 years at Sacred Heart University leading multiple areas of operations for athletics. He served as an artillery officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, 1989-1996, and as a trustee of the Silver Bay Family Conference Center on Lake George (N.Y.) for 12 years. Mark graduated from Tufts in 1988 and played lacrosse and hockey. He earned his MS in sport management from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1997.

Gina A. DeSalvo
Director of Parents Giving Program

Email: gina.desalvo@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-627-0644

Gina is director of Tufts’ Parents Giving Program, overseeing parent philanthropy and engagement, the Parents Leadership Council, and events for parents including Parents and Family Weekend. Gina joined Tufts in 2006 as the associate director of volunteer management where she developed the Tufts Fund Gift Officer program. Prior to Tufts, Gina was senior manager of alumni clubs in Boston University’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations, where she worked for eight years. Gina holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Boston University.

Laurie Cormier
Senior Director of Development & Alumni Relations

Email: laurie.cormier@tufts.edu 
Office: 508-839-7907

Laurie Cormier joins the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine from the Williston Northampton School, a private, co-educational, day and boarding college-preparatory school in Easthampton, MA. In her role as Director of Advancement, she managed development and alumni relations efforts while overseeing a portfolio dedicated to securing major gift commitments for an $80 million comprehensive campaign, which concluded in June 2024. Laurie brings more than 20 years of fundraising experience to this position, with a proven track record in cultivating annual and major gifts, managing alumni engagement efforts, developing staff, planning events, crafting donor stewardship plans, handling advancement communications, and implementing planned gift strategies, all while advancing institutional goals.

Prior to her role at Williston, Laurie held major gift positions in higher education, where she built donor relationships, developed alumni leadership councils, and collaborated with academic deans and faculty to secure restricted and endowed sources. Early in her career, she worked for Boston Harbor Now, where she focused on individual giving, corporate and foundation support, and major fundraising events, contributing to numerous successful initiatives for the Boston Harbor Islands National Park.

Laurie holds a B.A. in Clinical Psychology from Suffolk University and an MBA from Clark University. She is a longtime resident of Grafton with her husband, three sons, and pup Maggie.

Stephen Muzrall
Senior Director of Development & Alumni Engagement
He/him/his

Email: stephen.muzrall@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-636-6927

Stephen serves as the senior director of development and alumni engagement for the School of Dental Medicine, where he works with his team to champion the school’s priorities with donors and volunteers. Steve joined TUSDM in 2019 as the director of development and has experience serving in leadership roles at Father Bill’s & MainSpring, Wheelock College, and as a gift officer at Stonehill College.  He is a graduate of Providence College with a degree in history and political science and received a graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership from Wheelock College.

Marianne Blaney
Director, Tufts Dental Fund

Email: marianne.blaney@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-636-3434

Marianne is director of the Tufts Dental Fund, responsible for marketing and fundraising strategy to support the priorities of the School of Dental Medicine.  Prior to joining Tufts in 2009, she worked at Simmons College, Emerson College, and Cabot Corporation. She holds a BS in business from Boston University.

Skip Nordhoff currently serves as the Senior Director of Development and Alumni Engagement at the Fletcher School. Prior to joining Fletcher, he was at Harvard Business School for twelve years, most recently serving as Philanthropic Advisor, Principal Gifts and International Strategy.  During his tenure at HBS, he built strong donor communities and philanthropic pipelines both domestically and internationally, including in India, Turkey, the Middle East/Levant and Africa.

Skip has also served as Senior Director, Principal Gifts at Mass General Hospital and was previously a Senior Major Gift Officer at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a Leadership Gift Officer at Wheaton College.  In addition to his nearly 20 years of higher education fundraising experience, Skip retired as a Colonel in the United States Marine Corp after completing 28 years of active and reserve service. Skip received his B.A. in Political Science and History from Denison University, and his MA in History from the Catholic University of America. He is also a graduate of several military schools to include Naval Flight School, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the Joint Forces Staff College. He has two grown children, Galen and Grace.

Cindy Briggs Tobin
Senior Director of Development and Alumni Engagement

Email: cindy.briggs@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-636-0962

Cindy joined Tufts in 2000 as the Friedman School’s director of annual giving and alumni engagement. She was promoted to lead the department in 2007 and added the HNRCA to the office’s responsibilities in 2014. She oversees a team that engages, solicits, and stewards alumni and friends, among others, for school and center priorities. Prior to Tufts, she worked in fundraising for MASSPIRG, the American Heart Association, and Boston University. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and psychology from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in public relations from Boston University.

Kristin Tommey leads fundraising and alumni engagement for the Tufts School of Medicine and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Passionate about building joyous, collaborative, and high-achieving teams, Kristin has spent her career in higher education and academic medicine developing strategies that inspire donors and advance institutional priorities. Prior to returning to Tufts (her alma mater) in November 2023, Kristin led advancement for the Museum of Science following 13 years at The University of Texas at Austin. At UT, she led development for the new Dell Medical School and its UT Health Austin clinical practice, launching the school's grateful patient program, as well as its participation in the university's historic $6B What Starts Here campaign. Additionally, she led development communications at the Cockrell School of Engineering and School of Undergraduate Studies. Kristin is a proud Tufts undergraduate alum and served as managing editor of the Tufts Daily while earning her bachelor's degree in International Relations and German. She loves to read, camp, hike, and spend time with her husband, children, and Australian shepherd.

Emilia Salazar
Director of Development & Alumni Relations

Email: emilia.salazar@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-627-0698

Emilia Salazar joined Tufts in March 2018 as an associate director of development. She is thrilled to combine her passion for higher education and donor centered fundraising to match donor interests with university needs. Her focus is working with Tufts supporters throughout the East Coast.

Prior to arriving at Tufts, Emilia was a gift officer at Wheelock College, and before that she managed the individual giving program at WEAVE, Inc., the most comprehensive domestic violence agency in Sacramento, California. Emilia has also held fundraising roles at The Boston Conservatory and From the Top. She serves on the Membership Committee for Women in Development of Greater Boston and the Annual Fund Committee for Interlochen Center for the Arts.