Tywanda L. Cuffy – Director of External Relations, Communications and Development Initiatives, University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press

Nicole Hernandez – External Relations Coordinator, University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press

The Friends of the University of Delaware Library has been around for more than 65 years. In 2018, we began working more closely with the group to redefine who they were, restructure how they do business and reestablish their support of the University of Delaware Library in new ways. The process has not always been easy. There have been successes, failures, and lessons-learned along the way. Join us as we explore these and provide you with strategic and tactical ways to reimagine your Friends group.

Speaker Bios:

Tywanda L. Cuffy is the Director of External Relations, Communications and Development Initiatives at the University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press. In this role, she oversees all development, donor relations, event planning, communications and marketing for the University’s flagship library, four branch libraries, three museums and the university press. Prior to this role, she served as the Assistant Director of Donor Stewardship and Alumni Engagement Communications in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at UD.

Nicole Hernandez is the External Relations Coordinator at the University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press. Her work focuses on donor stewardship, coordinating with the Friends of the UD Library, and developing and implementing engagement strategies with key constituents. Prior to her current role, Nicole served as the Program Manager for the Research Commons, a digital scholarship center, at The Ohio State University Library.

Dr. Janette Klein – University Librarian and Collection Management Coordinator, University of Central Missouri

Mary Moser – Engagement and Advancement Librarian, Healey Library, University of Massachusetts – Boston

This session is intended for staff who are tasked with library development initiatives but do not have an advancement program officer assigned specifically to support the library. In both small and large groups, attendees will problem solve together and share ideas for advocating for the library within their schools’ larger development landscapes. Attendees will leave the session with a concrete list of suggestions and ideas that they can apply at their home institutions to help get and keep the library on the radar of the central advancement office.

Speaker Bios:

Dr. Janette Klein has been with the University of Central Missouri since 2017. She has served in various roles, including faculty liaison librarian, acquisitions librarian, and Collection Management Coordinator, with oversight of Technical Services. In 2020, Klein was appointed University Librarian for the James C. Kirkpatrick Library. Her professional career also includes teaching experience at UCM and the University of North Texas, Denton, and approximately 12 years of management and auditing experience in the hospitality industry. Klein holds a Ph.D. in Information Science from the University of North Texas, Denton, where she served for three years, beginning in 2014, as a graduate research assistant and library liaison. She earned a Master of Science in Library Science at the University of North Texas, Denton; a Bachelor of Arts in History at Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri; and an Associate of Science as a Paralegal at Inver Hills Community College, Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. She also has a Graduate Academic Certificate in Advanced Management in Libraries and Information Agencies and a Graduate Certificate in Digital Content Management from the University of North Texas, Denton.

Mary Moser (she/her/hers): Mary Moser has worked in Healey Library at UMass Boston for 10 years. She is currently the Engagement and Advancement Librarian, a new role created in 2016 to support the Dean’s library development and fundraising efforts. Before stepping in the Engagement and Advancement role, she was the head of the library’s Reference, Outreach, and Instruction program. Prior to UMass Boston, Mary coordinated library reference and instruction programs at Babson College, Oxford College of Emory University, and Juniata College. Mary is currently a co-chair of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee for the Boston Library Consortium and serves on the Board of Trustees for NERCOMP (Northeast Regional Computing Program).

Michael A. Crumpton – Dean of University Libraries, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Nakia Hoskins – External Engagement Coordinator, University Libraries, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Kathelene Smith – Interim Head of Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

This presentation is to engage in a discussion of how library staff become involved and can support philanthropic efforts in a post pandemic environment. The education of library staff and the formal creation of a purposeful group moving that education and effort forward is paramount to successful donor engagement. We will share our story and encourage others to join in with ideas, concerns and best practices with how employee engagement works in their institutions. This will include a discussion of hierarchy for engagement and levels of confidentiality.

Speaker Bios:

Michael A. Crumpton, MLS, SHRM-SCP, is a Professor and the Dean of the University Libraries at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Mike oversees library operations and services with the team of librarians and staff. He is an affiliated faculty member for the Department of Library and Information, as well as a certified Senior Human Resources Professional. He is the editor of the Journal of Learning Spaces and past President of the North Carolina Library Association. His published works include monographs listed in our NC Literary Map, several chapters, and a host of articles in this institutional repository.

Nakia Hoskins is a Greensboro native and graduate and current student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Nakia is passionate about curating dynamic programs and events that foster community and relationship-building. She is currently the External Engagement Coordinator for the University Libraries at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, where she cultivates and brokers relationships with key audiences, stakeholders, and community partners. Nakia serves as a board member on Crown the Cure – a nonprofit catering to cancer survivors, Greensboro Bound Literary Organization, and Passion to Purpose, LLC.

Dr. Lipi Turner-Rahman – Director of Development, Washington State University

Washington State University Libraries re-imagined donor outreach and engagement to identify and reach new donors. We used e-newsletters social media, and specifically Facebook to tell our story and engage with and crowdsource alumni, to increase pipeline activity. Learn how WSU Libraries learnt from trial and error, to create media interns and identify strategies to lay the groundwork for new donors.

Speaker Bios:

Lipi has been a part of the WSU family for over 25 years. Lipi holds three degrees from WSU, BA in Anthropology; BS in Microbiology and a Ph.D. in Anthropology. Before joining the WSU Foundation team, she was the manager of the Kimble Digitization Center. Lipi is also an instructor in the Departments of History and School of Languages, Cultures and Race where she teaches WSU students to think and engage critically with the diversity of today’s global world.

Kathleen L. Schmand – Dean of James. E. Walker Library, Middle Tennessee State University

How did you come to academic library fundraising? Were you a librarian interested in raising money for a scholarship or program? Do you have a background in fundraising already, just not in a library? This session intends to help you get started in academic library fundraising. You might be in a one-person office or part of a larger fundraising team. You might also be a new library dean or have other fundraising responsibilities. Regardless of the size of your office or your role, there are some great ways to get started in identifying your donor base, building relationships with your development colleagues, types of fundraising, communicating your priorities to others, writing the winning proposal, and making the ask. I hope to share several of the insights I gained by building a robust development program in an academic library.

Speaker Bios:

Kathleen L. Schmand is a library professional with more than 30 years of experience in academic libraries. Since January 2021, she has served as the Dean of the James E. Walker Library at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). In this role she is responsible for leading and promoting excellence across the organization, enhancing the quality of library programs, and advocating for the library locally, regionally, and nationally. Since 2006 she has actively engaged and grown her knowledge and skills related to academic library fundraising. While at Northern Arizona University she served as the Director of Development and Communications and established a new pipeline of donors, created donor communications, cultivated giving relationships and secured major gifts in support of library priorities. She continues to facilitate monthly ALADN networking sessions on Zoom and works collaboratively with the MTSU development office on growing library support in her new role.

Dr. Tracy Elliott – Dean, University Library, Florida Gulf Coast University

Having talking points, tailored to donors, is an extremely effective tool for cultivating new donors.  The session with explore best practices for developing elevator pitches, and working with your entire library team members to develop their own pitches.  Participants will have an opportunity to develop their own elevator pitch.

Speaker Bios:

Dr. Elliott has been a dean or director for libraries for nearly 25 years.  She has been raising money for a range of institutions from a small rural community college to a large urban state university.  She is now building a donor portfolio from scratch at Florida Gulf Coast University. She currently teaches courses on advocacy and academic libraries to students in the MLS program at San Jose State University.

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Kenna Barrett, Assistant Dean and CDO, University Libraries, University of Maryland, College Park

Dr. Adriene Lim, Dean of Libraries, University of Maryland, College Park

Some institutions have mature development shops with seamlessly integrated library philanthropy. And then, there’s the rest of us! No matter where your institution is on its fundraising journey, you can create the ecosystem for positive donor conversations and position your library as helping tackle the world’s greatest challenges. With a blend of theoretical concepts and practical wisdom, UMD Dean of Libraries Adriene Lim and CDO Kenna Barrett discuss communicating your value to donors and making the most of their feedback. We share the “icebreak-inquire-inspire” model of sparking conversation with people different from you (e.g., donors). We discuss how positionality affects how all of us operate, e.g., as a BIPOC lesbian in white-dominated, primarily heterosexual situations (Lim) and a white woman (Barrett) who specializes in engagement strategies for introverts. Participants will have the opportunity to hone their talking points in a safe, fun environment!

Speaker Bios:

Kenna Barrett is Assistant Dean and CDO of University Libraries for the University of Maryland, where she leads all aspects of library development. Over her 25-year fundraising career, Kenna has raised millions of dollars in all types of organizations, from start-ups to world-class universities. Kenna also teaches fundraising at Sacred Heart University and is a regular presenter on topics such as “Making the Ask” for Introverts, the Science of Schmoozing, and more. Through her coaching practice, Kenna works with self-identified introverts and others to navigate philanthropic communication. Kenna graduated from Wellesley College, the University of California-San Diego, and the University of Rhode Island. Her essays have appeared in Bethesda Beat, Fairygodboss, Introvert, Dear, NonProfit PRO, and elsewhere.

Adriene Lim, PhD, MLIS, is the Dean of Libraries at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), and serves as the co-leader of UMD PACT, a cross-campus group convened to advance sustainable, equitable scholarly publishing, facilitate open research, and promote open education at UMD. Prior to joining the University of Maryland in late 2019, Lim was Dean of Libraries and Philip H. Knight Chair at the University of Oregon. In addition to being active in the Association of Research Libraries and the Association of College and Research Libraries, Lim serves as Chair of the University of Maryland Affiliated Institutions consortium and was elected to serve as American Library Association (ALA) Councilor-at-Large, 2022-2025. She also currently serves on the boards of the Center for Research Libraries (CRL) and the Academic Preservation Trust. Lim earned her Ph.D. in library and information science at Simmons University and her MLIS at Wayne State University. She has published numerous articles and book chapters, and given presentations about managerial leadership, the future of libraries, technology, diversity, and other topics at the international and national levels.

Cindy Thompson, Dean of Libraries, University of Missouri-Kansas City

Ginger Williams, Dean of Library Services, Fort Hays State University

Mark Mattison, Senior Director of Development, University of Missouri-Kansas City Foundation

Mary Hammond, Director of Development, Fort Hays State University Foundation

First-time deans face many challenges when working in advancement and development for the first time, as there are few resources to provide support. Join two deans who have recently finished their first year at mid-sized public universities as they took the lead on fundraising for the first time in their careers, as well as the experienced development officers they leaned on to provide support. Get ideas of things to try and hear lessons learned from the new deans and the development officers working to onboard new academic leadership.

Speaker Bios:

Cindy Thompson, MA, PhD, is the Dean of Libraries at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s University Libraries. She began at UMKC in 2006 as the Interlibrary Loan Librarian and took on increasing responsibilities until she attained her current position. At the UMKC Libraries Cindy has been engaged in a number of significant initiatives, including endless phased renovation and active work on equity. Her research interests lie with organizational structure and strategic change management, and she is very involved in the Missouri Library Association and chairs UMKC’s Institutional Review Board. Cindy lives in Kansas City’s northland with her dashing husband and adorable children, loves spreadsheets (truly!), and bakes whenever she can.

Ginger H. Williams, M.LIS., M.Ed., is Dean of Library Services for Fort Hays State University in western Kansas. Before this leadership position, she worked in reference, instruction, assessment, circulation, outreach, distance services, special collections, and archives. She is passionate about informal mentoring, and this has been her primary research interest. Currently, she is working on planning a major facility renovation and creating a new strategic plan with her library staff. In her down time, she enjoys homebrewing and drinking beer, listening to audiobooks, trying new crafts, and singing, and she is a beginner golfer.

Mark Mattison, MPA, serves as a Senior Director of Development with the University of Missouri-Kansas City Foundation. He has more 15 years’ experience as a professional fundraiser, 10 of which have been dedicated to Academic Libraries. Mattison has presented nationally and internationally at academic and development conferences, focusing on tools for building a network of advocates to provide financial support and collaborative assistance in raising funds. He holds degrees in Communication, Secondary Teaching, and Public Administration.

Mary S. Hammond is starting her sixth year as a Director of Development with the Fort Hays State University Foundation. Mary’s area of focus for fundraising and engagement, are Forsyth Library, and the College of Education. This is Mary’s second ALADN conference. In her off time, Mary enjoys reading, walking her dog and playing golf with her husband.

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Cynthia Childrey, Dean and University Librarian, Cline Library, Northern Arizona University

Special and archival collections are about people, their voices and stories. Successful and sustained fundraising for archival collections requires building relationships based on a shared commitment to preserving and providing access to the power of distinctive voices, represented in photographs, oral histories, scrapbooks, journals, moving images, letters, and drawings. In building passionate communities around collections, archivists and curators are central collaborators in advancing archival collections, programs, and operations. This session will provide an overview of the role and impact of Special Collections and Archives at Northern Arizona University and examples of growth in funding, collections, and community and donor engagement.

Speaker Bios:

Cynthia Childrey has served as Dean and University Librarian of the Cline Library at Northern Arizona University (NAU) since 2002. Prior to her arrival at NAU in 1990, she served as the Management and Economics Bibliographer at Boston University. She has worked closely with library development and communications directors, Special Collections and Archives personnel, and University Advancement to build and sustain the library’s development program.

Tywanda L. Cuffy, Director of External Relations, Communications and Development Initiatives, University of Delaware Library Museums and Press

Nicole Hernandez, External Relations Coordinator, University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press

In fall of 2019, Tywanda created the Library, Museums and Press Development Ambassadors to strengthen the culture of engagement and philanthropy among staff. Currently, Nicole and Tywanda meet quarterly with the group to advance the understanding and awareness of philanthropy within the Library. Since forming, the ambassadors have redefined the grant writing process and policy for staff members—increasing overall awareness and an uptick in grant applications; increased staff participation in crowdfunding efforts like Giving Tuesday and I Heart UD Day; and increased donor engagement and qualification at signature events. Join Tywanda and Nicole as they discuss the process for creating an ambassador group, review in detail the work the group has accomplished together and explore how you might create one at your university to enhance your development efforts.

Speaker Bios:

Tywanda Cuffy is the Director of External Relations, Communications and Development Initiatives at the University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press. In this role, she oversees all fundraising, donor relations, communications, marketing, and events for the University’s flagship library, four branch libraries, three museums and university press. She has worked in library development for five years. Prior to that, she served as the Assistant Director of Donor Stewardship and Alumni Engagement Communications at the University of Delaware.

Nicole Hernandez is the External Relations Coordinator at the University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press. Her work focuses on donor stewardship, coordinating with the Friends of the UD Library, and developing and implementing engagement strategies with key constituents. Prior to her current role, Nicole served as the Program Manager for the Research Commons, a digital scholarship center, at The Ohio State University Library.

Mary Irwin, Libraries Development Officer, Smith College

Elizabeth Myers, Director of Special Collections, Smith College

In 2015, Smith College decided to rebuild rather than renovate the century-old main campus library. In this presentation, we will focus on the steps taken to educate and engage the extended Smith College community to raise funds both for the construction and the programming the new library made possible. While the college floated a bond for the entire $120 M project, central and library development staff were asked to raise $35M. When this was achieved one year into construction, the goal was raised to $45M. By the time the library opened, support worth $58.5M had been secured.

Speaker Bios:

Mary Irwin is responsible for building financial support for the Smith College Libraries and raising awareness about its strengths and needs with alums and others. She has managed the operations and activities of the Friends of the Smith College Libraries for 25 years. She works closely with the Dean of Libraries, senior staff and central development on library fundraising projects and donor stewardship, coordinating gifts for all library departments. Before Smith, she worked in corporate marketing in Paris and New York while also working as a French-English translator. She received her B.A. from Maynooth University in Ireland. Mary has attended ALADN conferences in San Diego, Boston and Fort Worth.

(Eliza) Beth Myers joined Smith College in 2014 as Director of Special Collections. She previously held positions at the Women and Leadership Archives in Chicago and the Walter Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs in Detroit. She is currently a member and Vice President of the Society of American Archivist Foundation Board. Individually and as part of a team, Beth has raised 4.5M in funds while at Smith. Her current research interest is in grief culture as an extension of archival work.

Elizabeth Myers, Director of Special Collections, Smith College

Speaker Bios:

(Eliza) Beth Myers joined Smith College in 2014 as Director of Special Collections. She previously held positions at the Women and Leadership Archives in Chicago and the Walter Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs in Detroit. She is currently a member and Vice President of the Society of American Archivist Foundation Board. Individually and as part of a team, Beth has raised 4.5M in funds while at Smith. Her current research interest is in grief culture as an extension of archival work.

Dr. Eric J. Johnson, Professor and Curator of Thompson Special Collections and Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, The Ohio State University

A recent anonymous donation to Ohio State’s Rare Books & Manuscripts Library created the conditions for an ambitious and unprecedented new curricular experiment at Ohio State that connected students directly to the process of acquiring unique and valuable medieval manuscripts, from working with book dealers, to evaluating and purchasing materials themselves, and presenting their work to one of the donors who funded the program. This presentation will discuss how, with the help of a team of donors, Prof. Johnson has been able to create a teaching program that sees collections drive student use, student use drive donor development, and donor development drive further collection growth, resulting in an effective “perpetual motion machine” that manufactures ongoing educational and philanthropic opportunity.

Speaker Bios:

Dr. Eric J. Johnson is a Professor and Curator of Thompson Special Collections and the Rare Books & Manuscripts Library at The Ohio State University, where he regularly deploys his library’s collections—from medieval manuscripts to modern books—in a variety of educational, research, and outreach contexts.

Leslie Sharp, Dean of Libraries, Georgia Institute of Technology

This session explores the basics of building relationships with foundations through being “Ready, Willing, and Grateful.” The Georgia Tech Library has historically been without a dedicated development professional; however, it has had fundraising success with foundations through three fundamental practices: 1) having an ongoing list of Library wants and needs targeted toward past funders; 2) being willing to respond at a moment’s notice through engaging Library employees; and 3) providing timely updates that express deep gratitude for our shared passions. This consistent approach involves the dean, her executive assistant, library employees, and frequent communication with Georgia Tech Foundation Relations.

Speaker Bios:

Leslie N. Sharp is Dean of Libraries at Georgia Tech. Previously, she served in dual roles as interim CEO for the Library and associate vice provost for Graduate Education and Faculty Development. As associate vice provost, Sharp managed operations, including communications, human resources, finance, and general administration. She also oversaw an expanding organizational mission and operations, including growing personnel and services that offered enhanced graduate student support, professional development for graduate students and postdocs, postdoctoral services, and more intentional faculty development. Sharp has worked to improve the recruitment and retention of faculty and staff through systemic changes based on equitable practices and building a positive culture in all of her roles.

Sharp teaches historic preservation in the College of Design, where she formerly served as the assistant dean. Sharp holds a Ph.D. and a master’s in history of technology from Tech. Her research explores the impact of technology on people and places within the framework of historic preservation, gender, and race.

Michael Crumpton, Dean, University Libraries, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Nakia Hoskins, External Engagement Coordinator, University Libraries, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

This presentation explores academic library trends and potential modification to fundraising strategies, and challenges to library administrators. This is also a case study of how the use of a Donor Experience Officer (DXO) transitions traditional donor contact methods from physical, personal engagement to virtual activity across the spectrum from solicitation to stewardship. This presentation will provide a look at trends and discuss strategies, examples, and concepts for recognizing these trends as well as modifying and aligning your library’s institutional advancement efforts. Our experiences with moving to a Donor Experience Officer and providing virtual engagement options for donors will be shared.

Speaker Bios:

Nakia Hoskins is a Greensboro native and graduate and current student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Nakia is passionate about curating dynamic programs and events that foster community and relationship building. She is currently the External Engagement Coordinator for the University Libraries at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro where she cultivates and brokers relationships with key audiences, stakeholders, and community partners. Nakia serves as a board member on: Crown the Cure– a nonprofit catering to cancer survivors, Greensboro Bound Literary Organization, and Passion to Purpose, LLC.

Lipi (Israt) Turner-Rahman, Director of Development, Washington State University

Washington State University Libraries re-imagined donor outreach and engagement to identify and reach new donors.  We used e-newsletters, social media, and specifically Facebook to tell our story and engage with and crowdsource alumni to increase pipeline activity.  Learn how WSU Libraries learnt from trial and errors to create media interns and identify strategies to lay the groundwork for new donors.

Speaker Bios:

Lipi (Israt) Turner-Rahman Ph.D. has been a part of the Washington State University family for more than 25 years. Before joining the WSU Foundation team, she was the manager of the Kimble Digitization Center.  Lipi is also an instructor in the Departments of History and School of Languages, Cultures and Race where she teaches WSU students to think and engage critically with the diversity of today’s global world. 

Carol E. Smith, University Librarian, Colorado School of Mines

Sarah Ormeo, Colorado School of Mines

Many academic foundations employ a liaison model, designating a particular foundation representative to serve as the primary point of contact for each academic program. Working closely with your designated liaison can drive a library’s fundraising and engagement efforts, as well as help the entire Foundation staff better understand transformative trends in academic librarianship and the development goals of your library. This interactive presentation will review strategies that have worked successfully at one small research library to leverage the relationship with their designated liaison, as well as provide the opportunity for attendees to share their own strategies for successful liaison partnerships.

Speaker Bios:

Carol Smith is University Librarian at the Colorado School of Mines (2016¬–present). She will begin a new position as Dean of Libraries at the University of Kansas, effective July 2023. Prior to Mines, she was Library Director at Adams State University (2013–2016). At the University of Central Missouri (2006–2013), she was a tenured Associate Professor of Library Services, serving as both a Business Librarian (2006–2010) and Technology Initiatives Librarian (2010-2013). Prior to librarianship, Carol held several positions of leadership in the oil industry and information services profession.

Sarah Ormeo has worked at Colorado School of Mines for the past 10 years. She works at the Arthur Lakes Library as the Library Program Administrator; Communications and Development Officer and is head of the Library Communications Team. Prior to working at the library, she worked in the Bursar Office. When she first arrived at the library, her focus was on revamping print communication and the past several years she focused on where communications meets development. She is married with a toddler, has lived in 6 states, and traveled to all 7 continents. Sarah is an active member of her local church. She enjoys traveling, learning new skills, and thinks that all problems are either challenges or opportunities.

Grace Strong, Stewardship and Events Manager, Harvard Library, Harvard University

Dealing with in-kind gifts on a case-by-case basis can be time consuming, inconsistent, confusing, hard to document, and leave you wondering if the effort is worthwhile. By working with the right stakeholders, asking the right questions and understanding the basic needs of your curators and librarians, creating a standardized in-kind gift policy is much simpler than it might seem. This presentation will illustrate the process Harvard Library has undergone to furnish an efficient and comprehensive policy that actually works.

Speaker Bios:

Grace Strong is the Stewardship and Events Manager for Harvard Library. With a background in educational non-profit donor relations and engagement, she is responsible for stewarding library donors through regular communications, annual reporting, and dynamic event experiences. She is also a point of contact for the central university development offices and the library, raising awareness for library initiatives and ensuring compliance with university giving policies and fund management, including creating Harvard Library’s In-Kind Gift Policy.