November/December 2008
Around the Quads
Transitions
ALUMNI OFFICE: Five staff members within the Alumni Office have new responsibilities and six staff members recently have joined the team.
Tina Pace is executive director of planning and administration, effective October 1. Pace has 24 years of experience designing, executing and supervising financial planning and analysis processes for organizations such as Time, Citibank and KPMG Peat Marwick.
Merideth Kerby ’04 GS joined the office on July 29 as associate director of administration. Most recently Kerby was coordinator of development operations at MoMA. Although new to the College, Kerby has held several positions in the Office of the Vice President for Information Services as well as the Office of the Vice President for the Arts & Sciences.
Taren Cowan, CCT’s advertising sales manager for the past two years, has assumed the new position of associate director, advertising for CCT and Columbia magazine as of July 1. In this expanded role, Cowan is responsible for selling advertising and building the advertising programs for both alumni magazines.
Ethan Rouen ’04J is the new associate editor of CCT, effective October 13. Rouen most recently was a crime reporter for the New York Daily News. At CCT, he is coordinating the Class Notes, overseeing Bookshelf, writing features and profiles, and working to improve the Web presence of CCT and the Alumni Office.
Eleanor L. Coufos ’03, ’06 TC became associate director, Young Alumni Fund, on July 1. Most recently Coufos was the associate director of donor relations, coordinating the College’s stewardship efforts. Prior to her work at the Alumni Office, Coufos was associate director of administration and planning at the Center for Career Education.
Zachary Howell was promoted to assistant director of the Columbia College Parents Fund, effective July 1. Howell, who previously was a class giving officer, is working closely with Parents Fund Director Susan Rautenberg.
Heather Hunte, who has been with the Alumni Office for more than 20 years, has transitioned into development as a class giving officer, focusing on the Classes of 1960–1972. Hunte most recently has been associate director of national outreach and also has guided the 50th reunions of the Classes of 1951–1958 through successful Alumni Reunion Weekends.
Amanda Kessler joined the Alumni Office as a development officer, young alumni, on July 9. Kessler previously worked at Lehigh, where she was a higher-education intern in its Alumni Relations Office.
Rachel Towers is the new assistant director of reunion giving, effective August 4. During her two-year tenure at The Gillen Brewer School, her most recent position, Towers was director of development.
Jennifer Freely started on September 22 as assistant director of alumni affairs. Freely previously worked at Columbia University Conference Housing, where she spent 3½ years as the manager of conference housing. In her new position, Freely primarily is focusing on alumni education programs such as mini-Core courses, the John Jay Colloquium and the academic component of Alumni Reunion Weekend, as well as assisting with several 50-plus reunion classes.
Mia Gonsalves was promoted to assistant director of alumni affairs, young alumni, effective October 6. Gonsalves has been with the Alumni Office for 3½ years, most recently as assistant to the executive director of alumni affairs. In her new role, Gonsalves is continuing the increased involvement of Columbia College Young Alumni, including working with the fifth and 10th reunion classes.