HONOLULU – The University of Hawai‘i Foundation is happy to announce that two new development professionals have joined the team.
C. Kent Coarsey is the new director of development & alumni engagement, UH West Oahu. In this newly created position, Coarsey will engage UH West Oahu alumni through communication, enhanced networking and giving programs. He will also grow major gift fundraising efforts to support the vision of the chancellor of UH West Oahu.
Coarsey grew up in Kailua and graduated from James B. Castle High School. He earned his BA in Psychology and Bachelor in Art from UH Mānoa, and his Masters in Nonprofit Management from Regis University in Denver, Colorado.
Much of his career has been spent working with Hawai‘i organizations that serve children and families. This includes serving as president/executive director of The Children’s Alliance of Hawaiʻi; director of philanthropy of the YMCA of Honolulu; and executive director of the Hawaiʻi Branch of the International Dyslexia Association. Coarsey was the founder and board president of Family Promise of Hawaiʻi an affiliate of national interfaith networks which provide programs for transitional housing, child care and homelessness prevention.
Karla Zarate-Ramirez, CFRE is the new executive director of development – Mānoa. In this role, Zarate-Ramirez supports Interim Dean Ronald Riggs and Interim Dean Tom Ranker, in expanding fundraising efforts and broadening philanthropic support for the College of Engineering and the College of Natural Sciences.
Before joining the UH Foundation, Zarate-Ramirez spent 17 years with the American Friends Service Committee in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she served in various roles including director of development operations, director of campaign & leadership gifts, and most recently, director of campaign, leadership & planned gifts.
Zarate-Ramirez earned a BA in Communications from Hampshire College and an MS in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania. She also earned her Certified Fundraising Executive credential (CFRE) in 2012. Active in her community, she has served as a board member with groups including the Hampshire College Alumni Board and the Friends Child Care Center,
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The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawaiʻi System. The mission of the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation is to unite donors' passions with the University of Hawaiʻi’s aspirations by raising philanthropic support and managing private investments to benefit UH, the people of Hawaiʻi and our future generations www.uhfoundation.org.
