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10 Inspiring Women in Higher Ed Spotlight Series
- Sarah Plowright
- Mar 28
- 10 min read
Welcome to our Women in Higher Education Spotlight Series!
This series is dedicated to celebrating 10 extraordinary women who are making a significant impact in the world of Higher Education through their innovative work and invaluable contributions. Collectively, with over 100+ years of experience, their efforts are helping to shape the future of education and inspire others to follow in their footsteps.
This month, we are excited to feature a group of remarkable women, each nominated by their account managers for their outstanding achievements in the field.
Sue Lau Coordinator, Data Services Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
💡 My advice: I enjoy using my creativity at work to drive improvement and progress. I believe there’s always something new to learn and things we can do better.
📖 About Sue: With nearly two decades of experience at RMIT University, Sue Lau is a dedicated professional specializing in project administration, CRM management, and data-driven decision-making. As a CRM & Audience Coordinator in the alumni area, Sue plays a pivotal role in optimizing data accessibility, enhancing reporting suites, and streamlining processes to improve efficiency.
Her expertise extends to developing user-friendly process documentation, integrating cutting-edge CRM tools, and driving audience segmentation strategies for targeted alumni engagement. Sue's ability to simplify complex workflows, implement innovative solutions, and mentor teams has significantly contributed to RMIT’s operational success. Passionate about leveraging technology to enhance user experience and data integrity, Sue’s work ensures that best practices are not only well-documented but also easily accessible for long-term institutional growth. Her dedication and strategic approach continue to leave a lasting impact on RMIT University.
Read more about Sue on LinkedIn.
Danielle Blondin
Regional Alumni Network Manager | Northeast
Western Governors University
💡 My advice: My team and I oversee and engage an alumni network of over 350,000 graduates nationwide. It can seem like an impossible task. But if I make just one WGU graduate each day feel seen and special, then the mission is a success. We do for one what we wish we could do for all. Start small — it doesn't take much to make a real impact.
📖 About Danielle: Her career in higher education began, as many do, in an undergraduate admissions office. She spent five years as Assistant Director of Admissions at Plymouth State University in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
It was a role she wholeheartedly loved, especially leading a team of student tour guides, a position that helped her achieve a dream. Her time as a student tour guide at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts played a significant role in shaping her career, and she credits that experience with preparing her for her future. Danielle has always been passionate about mentoring, and it was a dream come true to pay forward the guidance she received.
After PSU, she moved on to become Outreach Coordinator on the Career Services team at the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, where she worked with a unique population of online, mostly mid-career law students. This experience challenged conventional views about higher education and inspired her to seek out institutions that embraced the online model. She was fortunate enough to join the Alumni Engagement Team at Western Governors University (WGU), where she now facilitates connections for WGU graduates in the Northeast, helping them find opportunities for career growth and access the many resources available to them for life. Danielle finds it incredibly rewarding to make someone's day by simply sending an email, letting them know, "I see you, and your story matters."
Danielle served public institutions in her home state of New Hampshire for several years, which she considers a privilege and the perfect way to start her career. Now, she’s incredibly enthusiastic about the role that WGU and similar institutions are playing in disrupting the higher education landscape. This year, WGU will host a Commencement ceremony in Boston, and Danielle is thrilled that New England will be able to celebrate such an impactful moment for so many graduates.
Read more about Danielle on LinkedIn.
Theresa Messina
Executive Director, Prospect Development
Clemson University Advancement
💡My advice: Leverage Your Strengths: Focus on what you do best and build on it.
Know What Energizes You: Align your work with what excites and motivates you.
Lean Into Your Network: Tap into your network for support, ideas, and opportunities.
📖 About Theresa: A seasoned higher education advancement professional with over 14 years of experience in process improvement and driving strategic initiatives. As the Executive Director of Prospect Development at Clemson University, Theresa was hired to establish the priorities and vision for the Prospect Development team.
She continues to refine and grow the team, dedicating herself to cultivating donor-centric environments through her collaborative leadership style, as well as mentoring and inspiring new leaders.
Throughout her career, Theresa has spearheaded impactful initiatives using effective prospect management, research, and data analytics. She excels at leveraging data-driven insights to support sustainable fundraising strategies that empower institutions to achieve their goals. She consistently uses new technology and other tools to stay at the forefront of innovation and best practices.
Before joining Clemson University, Theresa led the Research and Prospect department at Florida State University. Under her leadership, the department contributed significantly to the success of Raise the Torch: The Campaign for Florida State, helping FSU exceed its $1B fundraising goal.
Passionate about fostering growth in advancement and prospect development, Theresa is a people-first thought leader who always seeks creative ways to enhance fundraising efforts.
Read more about Theresa on LinkedIn.
Theresa Clark
Assistant Director of Prospect Development
Florida State University
💡My advice: Find something you love to do, and even when the work seems overwhelming, when you see the difference it makes, you will stay inspired and inspiring. While we may not close the gift, remember that what we do is part of the fundraising foundation. Your work matters! Plus, it’s a lot of fun, especially when you see a connection start and grow into a lifelong relationship and passion. So, enjoy it and celebrate your part of the puzzle – it’s okay to toot your horn about the role you play!
📖 About Theresa: Celebrating her 20th year in Prospect Development in July 2025. She began her career at Western Kentucky University as a Prospect Research and Stewardship Assistant before moving into the roles of Prospect Research Coordinator and then Assistant Director of Prospect Research and Management.
In 2018, Theresa set out for new horizons when she joined the FSU Foundation as the Assistant Director of Prospect Management, leading a team of four within the Research and Prospect Management group. In January 2025, Theresa took on a more focused role as Assistant Director of Prospect Development. Her new assignment will concentrate on Prospect Research with an initial emphasis on Principal Gifts and Gift and Estate Planning.
Throughout her time in the field, Theresa has witnessed the tremendous growth of the internet and the tools that make the job easier and faster to navigate, alongside a growing need for speed, strategy, and analytics. She has been part of three database conversions, assisted in creating reports and processes to make data more accessible to those who need it, and has tested numerous new platforms. She appreciates how these tools make the synthesis of data and information easier to use and understand.
In addition to the data, Theresa loves telling a prospect’s story – the golden nuggets that make philanthropy such an exciting and rewarding profession. Writing is a passion of hers, and no wonder, as she earned her B.S. in Technical Journalism from Colorado State University. Theresa also enjoys contributing to the industry through APRA and the regional chapters where she has lived – APRA Midsouth while in Kentucky and now APRA FL. She has recently joined the APRA FL board as Mentorship Director.
Read more about Theresa on LinkedIn.
Kate Panchal
Alumni Engagement and External Relations
University of New South Wales
💡My advice: Higher education is evolving, and so is alumni engagement. Don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo—innovative ideas often come from the simplest question: "What if we did it differently?"
📖 About Kate: An experienced alumni engagement and external relations professional, currently leading alumni experience at UNSW. With a strong background in marketing, stakeholder engagement, and event management, she connects global alumni networks with meaningful opportunities.
Passionate about fostering lifelong relationships between universities and their communities, Kate specializes in developing innovative programs that enhance engagement and collaboration.
Read more about Kate on LinkedIn.
Paula Baingana
Dir. Advancement Services
University of Saint Thomas MN
💡My advice: The best solutions come from the best-defined problems. Take the time to scope, clarify, and truly understand the challenge before jumping to solutions.
📖 About Paula: As the Director of Advancement Systems at the University of St. Thomas, she blends data science, business strategy, and automation to drive fundraising success. With a background in civil engineering and advanced degrees in data science and business, she brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to advancement.
Paula specializes in designing data pipelines, optimizing reporting systems, and automating workflows to improve efficiency and data quality. Her passion for leveraging data in advancement has led her to share insights at conferences and webinars, including a recent presentation at Apra Data Science Now, where she earned top recognition in a data competition.
Throughout her career, Paula has worked across industries, from engineering to analytics, always focused on building innovative, data-driven solutions. Her expertise continues to shape the future of advancement, ensuring institutions can harness the power of data for greater impact.
Read more about Paula on LinkedIn.
Megan McCord
Senior Director, Gift Administration Rutgers State University of New Jersey
💡My advice: Guided by a mentor who prioritizes empowerment and growth within his teams, Megan has learned that data presents invaluable opportunities to further the mission of higher education philanthropy. By leveraging accurate and actionable data, we can enhance alumni engagement, prioritize critical funding areas, and support student success. Empowering teams to think creatively and step outside of their comfort zones fosters innovation and growth. While this approach may occasionally lead to setbacks, it is through these challenges that we gain insights, learn, and achieve greater accomplishments as a team.
📖 About Megan: With over 15 years of leadership and applied experience in the higher education industry, specifically in gift processing and biographic maintenance operations.
Currently, Megan is the Senior Director of Gift Administration for the Rutgers University Foundation. In this capacity, she oversees a team of 17 in the day-to-day operations of biographic maintenance, gift processing, gift stewardship, matching gifts and employee giving, grants administration, and gift agreements.
Megan partnered with the Managing Director of Systems and Technology as the subject matter expert for gift processing and biographic maintenance during the foundation's implementation of Salesforce. She served as a key strategic partner with the implementation consultant to thoroughly test and customize the system, ensuring alignment with business needs. Megan developed training materials and led interactive sessions on gift entry and biographical maintenance in Affinaquest. She also assisted with the implementation of Commerce Cloud as the foundation's new online giving platform.
Read more about Megan on LinkedIn.
Anna Kulseth
Director of Individual and Alumni Engagement
Chicago State University
💡My advice (especially to women): Stop underselling your expertise. When you're sure of your recommendation or accomplishment, own it. Loudly.
📖 About Anna: A dynamic fundraising leader with a proven track record of driving multi-million dollar campaigns that exceed goals and fuel institutional growth. With expertise in nonprofit leadership, alumni engagement, and donor stewardship, she translates organizational missions into impactful philanthropic strategies.
Currently serving as the Director of Individual and Alumni Engagement at the Chicago State Foundation, Anna has spearheaded a complete alumni association reorganization, revived individual giving programs, and implemented innovative database policies to enhance donor engagement. Under her leadership, the foundation's annual giving efforts have consistently surpassed fundraising targets, strengthening scholarship programs and advancing racial education equity.
Previously, Anna held leadership roles at Roosevelt University, Adler University, and Heartland Alliance, where she launched record-breaking giving initiatives, restructured donor relations strategies, and expanded corporate partnerships. Her ability to blend data-driven decision-making with a deep commitment to social impact has set new benchmarks for fundraising success.
Passionate about empowering communities and fostering long-term donor relationships, Anna is a resourceful and collaborative force in the nonprofit sector, ensuring sustainable financial growth and meaningful change.
Read more about Anna on LinkedIn.
Rachel Davies
Assistant Director, Data Analytics, Prospect Development
Yale University
💡My advice: I am a curious person who hates being bored, so I look forward to seeing what kinds of puzzles I’m going to have to solve each day. Outside of work, I am also an artist, and I am especially happy when I have opportunities to bring more creativity into my work projects.
📖 About Rachel: With a career spanning astronomy, librarianship, and prospect research, Rachel Davies has a unique trajectory that blends scientific analysis, data-driven decision-making, and higher education fundraising.
As the Assistant Director of Data Analytics in Yale University’s Office of Development, Rachel applies advanced research methodologies and programming expertise to enhance donor prospecting, data visualization, and database management.
Before transitioning to development, Rachel was a doctoral candidate in astronomy, conducting research on X-ray binaries and analyzing multiwavelength astronomical data. Her background in astrophysics required mastery of statistical analysis, data visualization, and programming in IDL, R, and Python—skills that now drive her success in prospect research.
In addition to astronomy, Rachel has an extensive background in academic librarianship, having worked in a community college setting. Her experience in information organization, research methodologies, and teaching has been instrumental in training colleagues on data systems and research databases within the development office.
At Yale, Rachel plays a key role in maintaining data integrity, creating insightful visualizations, and training colleagues to leverage research tools for fundraising success. Her ability to quickly adapt to new technologies and communicate complex concepts in an accessible way makes them a valuable asset to the team. Detail-oriented, analytical, and a natural problem-solver, Rachel thrives at the intersection of data and philanthropy, transforming raw information into strategic insights that drive donor engagement and institutional growth.
Read more about Rachel on LinkedIn.
LaKiesha D. Gayden
Director, Biographical Records
The George Washington University
💡My advice: Connect with a mentor who will help you navigate and grow through challenges in your career and genuinely celebrate your achievements with you.
📖 About LaKiesha: With over 25 years of experience at George Washington University, LaKiesha Gayden has built an extraordinary career rooted in excellence, integrity, and a deep commitment to higher education. As Director of Constituent Records, she plays a pivotal role in managing critical data that fosters meaningful alumni relationships, strengthening the university’s legacy.
LaKiesha’s journey is a testament to continuous growth. She holds a Master of Professional Studies in Paralegal Studies from The George Washington University, a Graduate Certificate in Paralegal Studies, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Relations from Trinity Washington University. Her dedication to lifelong learning reflects her passion for both professional and personal development.
Throughout her career, LaKiesha has held various roles, from Senior Prospect Researcher to Assistant Director of Relationship Management & Analytics. Each position has shaped her expertise in data strategy, prospect research, and alumni engagement. Her leadership ensures that GWU maintains strong, data-driven relationships with its vast network of alumni and donors.
Beyond her professional achievements, LaKiesha is a champion for women in leadership and a mentor to those looking to advance in their careers. Her story is one of perseverance, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to excellence—an inspiration to all who have the privilege of working with her.
Read more about LaKiesha on LinkedIn.
We celebrate these outstanding women for their unwavering commitment to transforming Higher Education. If you’d like to connect with them and learn more about their strategies and insights, reach out to them on LinkedIn.
With experience working with 1,000+ institutions and 10,000+ users, LiveAlumni is also happy to share valuable tips, tricks, and strategies we’ve gathered along the way!
Contact us below for more information.
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