Susan “Sam” Dragan

Donor Relations Assistant
412-624-5820 • Susan.Dragan@ia.pitt.edu

Susan “Sam” Dragan is primarily responsible for providing secretarial support services to the Director of Donor Relations, Director of Advancement Operations, and the Events Manager. As part of the team, Sam’s responsibilities include compiling sensitive information into the data system to assist in stewarding donors, scheduling stewardship meetings/luncheons, and giving essential aid in fundraising efforts by building lifelong relationships with donors.
Sam joined the Department of Donor Relations in 2005 and currently holds a position as Administrative Assistant for Donor Relations, Advancement Operations, and Events within Institutional Advancement.  She is a member of the Association of Donor Relations Professionals and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Her 17-year service in several schools and centers of the University of Pittsburgh gives her a unique ability to understand and appreciate how the success of Pitt’s development efforts impacts students and faculty throughout the campus.

Larysa Gradeck

Director, Donor Relations
412-383-7440 • Larysa.Gradeck@ia.pitt.edu

Larysa Gradeck oversees the strategic development, implementation and evaluation of all donor relations programs and stewardship activities in the Department of Donor Relations. These stewardship programs include, but are not limited to: stewardship strategies, endowed and current fund audits, the honor roll of donors, stewardship reporting, the endowed funds report program, the tribute program, the Cathedral of Learning Society program, and the central scholarship program. Larysa is also responsible for developing and executing new stewardship activities and programs as requested by University administrators or partners.

Prior to joining the Donor Relations department in September 2000, Larysa was with the Carnegie Museum of Art where she was a Development and Administrative Assistant. Larysa also worked for the Pennsylvania Economy League as a Development & Communications Coordinator and Research Associate, as well as the Ohio Senate. A native of Ohio, she earned a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Bowling Green State University. Larysa is a member of the Association of Donor Relations Professionals and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

Jacki Keyes

Donor Relations Associate
412-624-6804 • Jacki.Keyes@ia.pitt.edu

Jacki Keyes is primarily responsible for the management and monitoring of endowed and current funds established in the non-health sciences schools/areas, ensuring that funds are spent in accordance with donors’ intentions and donors are informed of the use of their funds. Jacki works closely with the Office of Finance as well as others throughout the University to promote and ensure University-wide stewardship and spending standards. She also manages the endowed fund report mailing, OAFA scholarship stewardship, and the individual acknowledgement system.
Jacki joined the Office of Institutional Advancement in April 2004 as Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, Albert J. Novak Jr. In 2006, she moved to the Donor Relations team and currently holds a position as Donor Relations Associate. She is a member of the Association of Donor Relations Professionals and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. A native of Pennsylvania, Jacki graduated from Edinboro University with a Master of Arts in communication studies and a Bachelor of Arts in speech communications, with a minor in political science. While attending school, she held various public relations and marketing positions for both Walker Publishing and Grape Jam Summer Music Festival.

Paula Watson

Donor Relations Associate
412-624-8247 • Paula.Watson@ia.pitt.edu

Paula Watson’s primary responsibilities include processing memorial and honorary tributes, creating tribute fund reports and preparing specialized donor reports. She is responsible for the honor roll program, reviewing donor giving histories for eligible candidates to join the Cathedral of Learning Society, and creating planned giving and Chancellor Circle stewardship initiatives.
Paula joined the Office of Institutional Advancement in April 2006 and currently holds a position as Donor Relations Associate. She is a member of the Association of Donor Relations Professionals and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.  Paula has acquired 10 years of experience at various organizations devoted to quality operations and customer satisfaction. At Matthews Bronze International, Paula started in the foundry, was then moved to proofreading, and quickly became responsible for surveying customers for quality assurance. She developed a system to analyze quality and processes of all units which was rolled out at national meeting. Paula holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Cleveland Institute of Art with additional studies in education at Carlow University.

Jennifer Yates

Stewardship Coordinator
412-624-5852 • Jennifer.Yates@ia.pitt.edu

Jennifer Yates joined the Office of Institutional Advancement Donor Relations team in October 2008 and currently holds the position of Stewardship Coordinator. She is primarily responsible for the newly created Concierge Program, which recognizes some of the University’s most committed friends and donors. Her current responsibilities with the program include the following: proofreading and editing donation tax documents and other correspondence; developing giving history reports; coordinating other stewardship efforts; and expanding the program through new stewardship initiatives. Jennifer recently graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a MA in Higher Education Management. Prior to joining the Institutional Advancement staff, Jennifer received her BA in Anthropology from the University and worked for Pitt in the Office of Student Affairs.

Paul Silver

Manager of Donor Relations

Medical and Health Sciences Foundation
412-647-8462 • spaul@pmhsf.org

Paul Silver manages the donor relations program at the Medical and Health Sciences Foundation. His main activities include: fielding donor inquiries stemming from gifts receipts for contributions to the University of Pittsburgh schools of the health sciences and UPMC, writing gift acknowledgments, and demonstrating a return on donors' investments through micro and macro stewardship initiatives.

Prior to joining the Foundation in September 2006, Paul received his M.A. in Arts Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University. His concentration was in development - in the arts and the greater nonprofit sector - with coursework in capital campaign strategies, grant proposal writing, and nonprofit staff management. Paul is a member of the Association of Donr Relations Professionals and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.