Akonadi Foundation Chooses New Chief Strategy Officer (Transitions)

Akonadi Foundation

Cecilia Chen has been hired as chief strategy officer, a new role at the $32 million racial-justice foundation in Oakland, Calif. Most recently she was public-policy director at Northern California Grantmakers.

Northern California Grantmakers

Dwayne Marsh, co-director of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity and vice president of institutional and sectoral change at Race Forward, has been appointed president and CEO of the Oakland philanthropy group.

United Way of Anchorage

Clark Halvorson has been appointed president and CEO. Most recently he led the statewide response to the Covid-19 pandemic as assistant secretary for the Department of Health of the State of Washington.

He follows Michele Brown, who has retired after 17 years leading the Alaskan group.

More New CEOs

Jenny Collins will be the first executive director of the Chehalis Foundation. Previously she was executive director of the Visiting Nurses of Lewis County, in Washington.

Stephanie Cook, manager of programs and member engagement, has been promoted to executive director of the San Diego Women’s Foundation.

Patrick Mühlen-Schulte, senior director of development, has been promoted to managing director of the Washington Ballet.

Other Notable Appointments

Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of Altered Tails Spay & Neuter Clinics, has been named senior adviser of strategic relationships at Best Friends Animal Society. In addition, Laura Donahue has joined the group as the director of legislation and advocacy. She most recently was director of mission advancement at Austin Pets Alive and American Pets Alive.

Jasmine Farrier, a professor and chair of the political-science department at the University of Louisville, will now also serve as vice president for university advancement.

Lori Hurvitz, executive director of alumni engagement and annual giving at the University of Chicago, is joining Tulane University as associate vice president for alumni relations.

Andy Jhanji, executive vice president of the FSU Foundation, will serve as interim vice president for university advancement at Florida State University.

Jay Kahn has been named vice president for development and alumni affairs at Georgia State University. He was most recently executive senior associate vice president for advancement at Purdue University.

Todd Karlin, assistant executive director of clinical services at Astor Services for Children and Families, has been promoted to chief program officer.

Flavia Llizo, vice president of development and marketing at Chapman Partnership, is now executive vice president and chief development officer at the Jackson Health Foundation, the fundraising arm for Miami’s Jackson Health System.

Amanda Brown Sissem, director of alumni engagement at Edinboro University, will now also serve as interim assistant vice president for advancement. She replaces Marilyn Goellner, who is retiring after 26 years at the Pennsylvania university.

Donna Stines, senior development manager at the American Cancer Society, has been named philanthropy director at the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation. In addition, Beth Koffman, vice president of operations, has been promoted to vice president.

Departures

John Dooley, who has served as CEO of the Virginia Tech Foundation for eight years, intends to retire in the spring. He has worked at the university since 1982.

Mary Stallings, executive director of Cherokee Strip Community Foundation, will retire next month. She began leading the $28 million Oklahoma foundation in 2001.

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