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"The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation is working full steam to meet the historic Centennial Campaign goal of raising $250 million for the University of Hawaiʻi. Having an energetic, committed and qualified team of professionals is critical to meeting this goal."

University of Hawaiʻi Foundation President and CEO Donna Vuchinich


(Honolulu, Hawaiʻi) — The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation (UHF) is happy to announce the following promotions, and new staff.

Moves

Jennifer Hee, Director of Development for the William S. Richardson School of Law. Hee has been with the UH Foundation since July 2006, and will now be providing leadership in developing the Law School's overall strategy for fund development. Before relocating to the School of Law, Hee served as the Director of Institutional Advancement for Kapiʻolani Community College. A proud University of Hawaiʻi alumni, she graduated with her AAT '00 Kapiʻolani, and her BA '02 Mānoa.

Linh Hoang, Director of Development for Kapiʻolani Community College has been moved from her previous position as Associate Director of Estate and Gift Planning and has worked at the UH Foundation since December 2003. In her new role Hoang will provide leadership in assisting Kapiʻolani Community College reach its major gift goals through the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of individuals, corporations, and foundations. She is an alumnus of the University of Hawaiʻi, Shidler College of Business, BBA '00, Mānoa.

Unyong Nakata, Assistant Director of Estate and Gift Planning, has been promoted from her position as Communications Coordinator of Estate and Gift Planning. The Estate and Planned Giving office offers donors a means of fulfilling their philanthropic goals, and creating a legacy, through remembering the University of Hawaiʻi in their wills. Donors can designate their planned gifts for scholarships, faculty positions, academic programs, research, facilities, or other areas of interest. Nakata has worked at the UH Foundation since May 2006. In her new role, Nakata coordinates all marketing communications and assists with donor communication and stewardship, in particular with Bequests and Charitable Gift Annuities. A two-time alumna, Nakata obtained her BS '00 Mānoa, and her MBA '05 Mānoa. Coincidentally, part of her undergraduate education was funded by a UH Foundation scholarship.

Amy Watari, Director of Alumni & Development, Communications, Shidler College of Business has been promoted from her position as Alumni Relations Coordinator for the Shidler College of Business. Watari has been with the UH Foundation since April 2005, and is an alumna of the Shidler College of Business, BBA '90, Mānoa. Watari's primary new responsibilities include serving as the managing editor of the Shidler Business alumni magazine and enhancing the college's website content relating to alumni and donor relations.

Margaret Shiba, Senior Director of Development for the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo has been promoted from her prior position as Director of Development for UH Hilo and has been with UHF for three years. Shiba received her undergraduate degree in Anthropology, '69 Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and earned her MA '70 Harvard University. Shiba is responsible for building a team in Hilo to address the fundraising needs of UH Hilo, a growing campus with 6 colleges, a Division 2 Athletics program, vibrant performing arts center, and ʻImiloa, an astronomy education center.

New Hires

Development Associate Kristi Bates has joined UHF and is working with donors and faculty to raise private support for the College of Engineering. A proud alumna, Kristi received her BA '89 Mānoa, in Communications. Prior to joining UHF Kristi worked at the School of Travel Industry Management as a Special Projects Coordinator.

Mangmang Qiu Brown, new Director of International Engagement is a two-time UH alumna with a JD '98 Mānoa, where she graduated cum laude, and a MBA '94 Mānoa, in international business. Prior to her study here almost two decades ago, Brown received her BA '87 Beijing University School of Economics, and worked for China’s National Economic Commission. She was recently a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Honolulu, and the General-Coordinator for the nonprofit Hawaiʻi-based U.S.-ASIA Law Institute. In her new UHF position, Brown's primary focus is on strategic planning and managing UHF's international development unit which expands relationships, and secures support for the University of Hawaiʻi from the growing segment of alumni and friends in Asia and the Pacific region.

Stacia Garlach, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, Communications and Marketing, joins UHF after serving as the Publications Editor/Creative Director for the Office of Institutional Advancement and adjunct Professor of Communication at Chaminade University of Honolulu. The Office of Alumni Relations at the UH Foundation develops alumni programming for the UH System; advances the interests of the institution by connecting alumni and friends with the university; builds stakeholder relationships in the community; and inspires pride, affinity and support through mutually beneficial and lifelong relationships. Garlach's primary responsibilities include University of Hawaiʻi Alumni Association (UHAA) branding; producing the alumni online newsletter, Nupepa; developing membership marketing materials, maintaining the UHAA Web site; and coordinating public relations and legislative advocacy. Originally from Kansas, Garlach received her BA '97 Wichita State University and MA '03 Wichita State University in Communication.

Alumni Relations also welcomes Cori Miller, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations-Membership and Chapter Relations. Here she is primarily responsible for building and sustaining UHAA membership and the maintenance of affiliated partnerships with organizations that provide services to alumni members. Miller additionally monitors and assists alumni chapters on governance, financial, and promotional issues. Miller received her BEd '96 Mānoa, and her MA '00 San Jose State University, in Counselor Education. Prior to returning to Hawaiʻi, Cori worked at UC Berkeley as the Student Affairs Officer for the Statistics Department.

Director of Communications Margot Schrire comes to the UHF from the Institute for Human Services (IHS), Honolulu, where she was Director of Community Relations. As Director of Communications, Schrire is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive, strategic, donor-centered communications and marketing plan in support of fund raising and alumni relations efforts at University of Hawaiʻi Foundation (UHF). Through a variety of communication pieces, including website, monthly Centennial Campaign Newsletter and case statements, Schrire communicates to donors and potential donors the benefits of their philanthropy on the quality of teaching, research, and public service programs throughout the University of Hawaiʻi. Schrire is originally from Cape Town, South Africa and graduated with her BA '93 University of Cape Town, and her post graduate Honours degree, '95 University of Cape Town, in English.

 

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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.