Melinda leads the college’s advancement team to engage alumni, build individual and corporate partnerships and to further philanthropic investments in the college. Passionate about diversity and inclusion, her initial work in higher education was in engineering education research to increase retention of underrepresented students. Prior to her career in higher education, she provided research and development support to the U.S.D.A. Forest Service Fire and Aviation program.

• Advancement administration
• Special projects
• Corporate and foundation relations

Erin is a central resource for information pertaining to advancement’s priorities and strategic initiatives and manages special projects. She also supports the Associate Dean for Advancement and the Corporate and Foundation Relations team. Outside of work, you can find her kayaking, climbing, volunteering, or whipping something up in the kitchen.

• Donor relations
• Corporate relations
• Foundation engagement

Danna comes to UW from the Seattle Aquarium, where she served as Corporate Relations Officer building out a robust corporate relations program. She holds a master’s degree in conservation biology from the University of Queensland and a bachelor’s in marine biology from UCSC. In her role at UW, Danna is responsible for working with academic leaders, volunteers and others to develop and implement strategies for corporate and foundation support that align with departmental and College priorities.

• Donor relations
• Events

Rachel is based on San Juan Island and works closely with Friday Harbor Labs' Advancement board. She also coordinates annual Friday Harbor Labs donor events. Rachel dabbles in artistic ventures, but mostly enjoys going to art museums, concerts and dance performances.

• Donor Relations
• Individual Giving
• College Priorities

James is passionate about building and sustaining relationships with individuals to raise private support for the College of the Environment. In his role, he serves as the advancement liaison to the School of Oceanography, Department of Atmospheric Sciences and Program on the Environment. As a Husky alumnus himself, James has worked at UW Bothell Advancement since 2015 and joined the College of the Environment in autumn 2019. When he’s not working, he can be found cooking, reading or traveling.

• Donor relations
• Corporate relations
• Foundation engagement

Liz develops comprehensive strategies to raise corporate and foundation gifts and private grants in support of departmental and College-wide priorities. She is the point person for corporate and foundation engagement and outreach. Outside of work, she enjoys playing her trombone and spending time with family and friends.

• Donor relations
• Endowments
• Stewardship reports

Zanne's work focuses on donor acknowledgments, recognition and accountability, compliance and fiduciary responsibility, impact reporting, and engagement and loyalty. When not at work, you can find her singing with the Seattle Symphony Chorale at Beneroya Hall.

• College Priorities
• Individual Giving

Dave leads the College of the Environment’s individual giving team and raises private funding to support faculty, students and programs. Dave has been at the UW since 2005. He previously led the College of Engineering’s corporate and foundation relations team and the Advancement team in the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity where he led the Intellectual House campaign. Dave is an enrolled member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.

• Donor Relations
• Fundraising
• Stewardship

Kathleen connects internal and external stakeholders with EarthLab, one of the College's newest initiatives, to build stronger relationships between UW Environment and the community. She oversees support from individuals and private foundations making transformative gifts that impact EarthLab’s focus areas of ocean health, climate resilience, natural hazards and healthy ecosystems. Outside of work, you can find her exploring local hiking trails or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

• Individual Giving
• Fundraising
• Donor relations

Andrew serves as the College’s Advancement liaison for the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences and the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs. Prior to the College of the Environment, Andrew worked in fundraising and audience development roles at KUOW Public Radio, ACT Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre. Outside of work, he enjoys running, playing tennis and spending time in the San Juan Islands.

• Administrative Support
• Event Support
• Office Management

Kearstin assists advancement staff to process gifts, steward donors, pull reports and manage the office. She has a fond relationship with the College of the Environment, as an alum of the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences herself. When she isn’t helping fundraisers get out the door, she can be found camping all throughout the mountains or playing rugby at Magnuson park.