RAISE Podcast

About Reshunda

Dr. Reshunda Mahone is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving at North Carolina State University. With over twenty years of advancement and development experience, she has supported every aspect of higher education fundraising. Dr. Mahone has previously held fundraising roles at Emory University, Virginia State University, Spelman College, the University of Miami, Georgia State University, and the University of Central Florida. She began her career in advancement at her alma mater, the University of Florida. She has expertise in campaign fundraising, data analytics, diversity, equity, and inclusion in philanthropy, leadership development, and operational optimization.

She is an active member of the Council for the Advancement & Support of Education (CASE) District III Board, and has previously served CASE on the Commission on Philanthropy and the Minority Serving Institution Advisory Board. Dr. Mahone also serves as the chair of the African American Development Officers (AADO) Network board and previously served on the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) boards for the Central Virginia, Greater Atlanta, and the Miami chapters. Dr. Mahone earned an Ed.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University, an MBA from the University of Central Florida, a B.S. in Decision and Information Sciences from the University of Florida, and is a Certified Fundraising Executive.

Mo Cotton Kelly was named senior vice president for stakeholder engagement and chief operating officer (SVP-COO) at the UConn Foundation with responsibility for driving operational and capital campaign strategy, overseeing key administrative functions, and guiding a culture of inclusivity. Cotton Kelly manages the departments of alumni relations, marketing and communications, annual giving, stewardship, and board engagement.

“It is a privilege to take on this new position, which was created with the UConn Foundation’s future in mind,” says Cotton Kelly. “Having direct oversight of engagement, annual giving, stewardship, and marketing and communications affords me a 30,000-foot view for developing strategy foundation-wide, so that we can elevate our critical work in support of Connecticut’s flagship university.”

“I have worked alongside Mo for several years and know her to be an exceptional leader, strategic thinker, and valued colleague,” says Jake Lemon, president and CEO of the UConn Foundation. “I look forward to working in close partnership with Mo in her new role.”

Cotton Kelly, who joined the UConn Foundation in 2014, has a national reputation for strong leadership built over two decades in higher education advancement. Previously, she was executive director of Bowling Green State University’s Alumni Association. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from BGSU. Currently, she is the District I Chair for CASE and an active member in the Council for Alumni Association Executives (CAAE).

Kimberly Russell, Ed.D, vice president for University Advancement, Texas Woman's University.

Russell has served as chancellor of Louisiana State University’s Eunice campus for the past three years, following more than two decades of leadership in advancement, foundations, corporate relations and grants for public and private higher education institutions.

During her leadership at LSU, enrollment at the Eunice campus grew 29 percent, and degree and certificate programs in high-demand healthcare fields were expanded. She also worked with the LSU Foundation on a comprehensive fundraising campaign to benefit all LSU institutions.

“This advancement leadership position is strategically important to TWU’s ability to prepare students to achieve their dreams and contribute meaningfully to Texas, and also to leverage our distinctive position as the nation’s largest university primarily for women,” said Carine M. Feyten, TWU chancellor and president.

Prior to her current position, Russell worked at Tyler Junior College as vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the TJC Foundation, which had a 35-member board of directors. During her 16-year tenure there, TJC completed a historic capital program that expanded the campus by 25 percent, including a new nursing and health sciences center, an energy center and residence hall. In addition, from 2013-2016, CASE consecutively recognized the TJC Foundation’s fundraising program for overall fundraising performance and sustained excellence.

Before joining TJC in 1999, Russell served as director of foundation and corporate relations at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, where she and her team acquired more than $5 million in successful grant proposals from a number of high-profile foundations. Prior to that, she served as a secondary English teacher (grades 7-9) and as an adjunct professor of English at Kilgore College.

“I’m excited to return to pursuing my passion — higher education advancement,” Russell said. “I’m also glad to return to North Texas, after growing up in East Texas, attending the University of Texas at Tyler, and completing both of my graduate degrees at UNT.”

Jonah Nigh joined The New School in September 2021 as Senior Vice President of Development and Alumni Engagement. In this role, Jonah leads The New School’s strategic fundraising, institutional advancement, alumni engagement, corporate, and foundation relations. He came to The New School from the Jewish Museum, where he served as the Director of Major Gifts, Senior Director of Individual Giving, and Acting Deputy Director of Development before being appointed Chief Development Officer. Other development roles included positions at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Columbia University, Opera America, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

A classically trained singer, he earned his undergraduate degree at Lawrence University and a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory. Performance credits include roles at the Aspen Music Festival, Boston Lyric Opera, Dorian Opera Theatre, Opera Boston, and on TV and film. In 2021, he and his husband were semi-finalists on NBC/Peacock's Baking It, a new baking competition produced by Amy Poehler and hosted by SNL alums Maya Rudolph and Andy Samberg.

A frequent public speaker, he has served in a variety of roles for NBC, Peacock TV, ABC, WNYC, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC Pride March, Asian Leadership Collective, Association of Fundraising Professionals, The Aspen Leadership Group, Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design, Development Debrief and DonorScape podcasts, Con Edison Musicians’ Residency Program, Columbia Business School, Florida State University, Lawrence University, Museum of the City of New York, The Jewish Museum, The New School, Phi Sigma Pi National Convention, among other organizations. In 2019, he was appointed to Bronx Community Board Four by former Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and served on its executive and economic development committees. He currently serves on the boards of The Association of Fundraising Professionals (NYC Chapter) and Grapevine.

When he's not fundraising, he's usually baking or running. He and his husband currently reside in the Bronx.

Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter: @nighjonah

Facebook: @Jonah Nigh

Shomari White is the Senior Associate Vice President, Resource Advancement, Emory University. Shomari has a strong track record of leading non-profit organizations through successful strategic planning and change management. As a former frontline fundraiser, his focus has been leading teams to deliver technology, analytics, and reporting that creates a donor centric environment while positioning frontline fundraisers for optimal success. In 2017, he was named Associate Vice President of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals and has served as the President of the Association of Advancement Professionals (AASP).

Matthew Hodge joined the University of Maryland as vice president for university relations in July 2022. Reporting directly to President Darryll Pines and serving on the leadership cabinet, he leads a team of 200+ advancement professionals responsible for generating private philanthropic and volunteer support among the university’s alumni and friends, and for best-in-class engagement of donors.

University Relations staff, centrally based within the division and within 14 schools, colleges and divisions across campus, focus on annual, major, principal and planned gifts; alumni and donor relations; and the financial management and operations of the division and UMCP Foundation.

The University of Maryland College Park Foundation is responsible for oversight of the private assets held by the university including the $1B+ endowment and the real estate corporation investments.

Prior to Maryland, Matt served in progressive advancement leadership positions at the University of Florida, Seminole State College, and the University of Central Florida. Matt and his wife Erin live in Bethesda with their Springer Spaniel, Camden. We have a son at FSU and a daughter at Wake Forest.

Dr. Kyle D. Edgington is vice president for development and alumni relations at The University of Texas at Dallas. Since joining the University in 2008, he has served as associate vice president, assistant dean for development and visiting clinical professor at the Naveen Jindal School of Management.

During his tenure, Edgington secured the two largest alumni gifts in UT Dallas history. The unprecedented combined $30 million impact of these gifts resulted in the renaming of the management school to the Naveen Jindal School of Management and the school’s honors program to the Davidson Management Honors Program.

Prior to joining UT Dallas, Edgington held fundraising positions at Texas Tech University, initially as a major gifts officer and later the director of development for the Edward E. Whitacre College of Engineering. While at Texas Tech, Edgington successfully organized and launched a $20 million campaign for the Department of Petroleum Engineering resulting in a $15 million naming gift to establish the Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering.

Edgington received a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from Texas Tech, an MBA from Wayland Baptist University and a PhD in public affairs from UT Dallas. He also holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential. Edgington was named one of the Dallas Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” honorees in 2012 for his work as president of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star Foundation. In 2017, he was inducted into the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District Hall of Fame.

A native of Bedford, Texas, Edgington and his wife, Jill, have three sons.