Conference Chair

Jennifer Garner
Immediate Past Deputy Director, Development
Kings College London

Jennifer Garner is the former deputy director of development at King's College London, where she was responsible for the alumni relations program, communications and operations of this $25m per year fundraising office. Previously, she was the associate vice president of university advancement at Queens University of Charlotte for four years, where she managed alumni programming, community lectures, and a $2 million annual fund. Prior to working at Queens, Garner was the director of alumnae affairs for four years at Chatham College. She has worked on special events for 18 years including, graduations, board dinners, donor stewardship events, galas, conferences, alumni weekends and international events.

Garner has also worked in college admissions, serving as the director of admissions both at the University of Evansville and at Queens College.

She received a bachelor's degree in English and communication from Queens College and a master's degree in nonfiction writing from Chatham College.

Faculty

James Hooker
Associate Senior Vice President, Office of Cultural Relations and University Events
University of Southern California

Jim Hooker is responsible for the artistic direction, production and management of more than 200 events a year on the University Park and Health Sciences campuses as well as at USC's international offices. In addition, Hooker is charged with expanding USC's visibility within the Los Angeles cultural community and enriching the university's relationship with Southern California's vast array of arts organizations. Also included in his portfolio are Arts and Culture at USC and Visions and Voices: The USC Arts and Humanities Initiative.

Hooker came to USC in 2002 with years of experience producing high-profile events for Hollywood studios and other entertainment-industry entities, including the Golden Globes and the Grammys. Prior to entering the events industry, he spent 11 years in film production, working on 40 feature films and three television series.

Hooker holds a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Texas and is currently working on a master's degree in communication management at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

Carlita Pitts
Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs & Donor Relations
The Ohio State University

Carlita Pitts is the assistant director of donor relations and reunions at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. She is responsible for stewardship of the colleges's major donors through cultivation and recogntion events, gift acknowledgement letters, annual endowment reports, alumni affairs, regional events, volunteer management and management of the college's giving society.

Prior to joining Ohio State, she worked at Chase Bank for five years and was responsible for communications, project management and administration for the Business Analysis & MIS department.

Pitts was a presenter at the CASE Special Events for Advancement Conference in 2010 and hosted the Julia S. Emlen Intentional Stewardship workshop in 2009. She currently serves on the board of directors and is the vice chair of the Public Relations Committee for the Association of Donor Relations Professionals. She is also the social media moderator for the organization's Facebook, Linked In and Twitter pages. In 2009, she was awarded the Volunteer Service Award from The ADRP due to her substantial role in developing the association's marketing and volunteer programs.

In her spare time, she does freelance marketing and public relations projects for numerous businesses in the Columbus, ohio, area.

Pitts received her bachelor's degree in communications from The Ohio State University, School of Journalism & Communications.

Lynne Wester
Director of Stewardship and Donor Recognition
Yeshiva University

Lynne Wester is the director of stewardship and donor recognition at Yeshiva University in New York City and is responsible for designing, implementing and coordinating a comprehensive stewardship and donor recognition system that appropriately and consistently promotes engagement with and recognition of donors at all levels.  

In addition to her work responsibilities, Wester is a frequent conference speaker, both nationally and regionally. With more than 65 different presentations on a wide array of topics under her belt, her speaking interests are diverse. She also created the website and blog www.donorrelationsguru.com where she shares her expertise, opinions and collections of samples on a variety of topics to the greater development world. 

She is the 2011 recipient of the ADRP volunteer service award and multiple CASE faculty stars. She received her undergraduate degrees from the University of South Carolina and is a loyal gamecock alumni and fan. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in strategic fundraising and philanthropy with an emphasis in higher education. 

Guest Speaker

Christina Pulawski
Consultant
Christina Pulawski Consulting

Christina Pulawski is an independent consultant specializing in development research, prospect management and information flow for fundraising. Previously, she was director of development and donor services at Loyola University Chicago, overseeing the areas of research, prospect management, data management, systems and stewardship. Prior to joining Loyola, she was director of development research at Northwestern University from 1994-2003, which earned "top research shop" distinction under her direction.

She completed a six-year term on the board of the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA), serving as vice president for education and professional development and secretary-treasurer. She chaired APRA's International Conferences in 1999, 2001 and 2002, developed APRA's Boot Camp and other symposia and received the organization's Distinguished Service Award in 2005. She has also served as president of APRA's Illinois Chapter and was a founding member and vice president of the Association of Advancement Services Professionals (AASP). She co-chaired AASP's inaugural Summit, several CASE conferences, regularly earns CASE faculty star distinction, and has frequently published, presented, consulted and guest lectured on the field of prospect research and advancement services for APRA, CASE, Indiana University Center on Philanthropy and AFP, plus other public and private organizations and nonprofit education and management programs.

Pulawski earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Northwestern and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois. She is admitted to practice in Illinois and practiced in the fields of real estate and litigation before taking the opportunity to explore development in 1991.

Special Guest

Dennis Cornell
Chief of Staff and Director of Protocol
University of Southern California

Dennis Cornell is the chief of staff to University of Southern California President C. L. Max Nikias. He is responsible for the overall planning and management of the office, and to support the president to carry out the university's mission.

As director of protocol, he is integral to how the university looks and feels to the public at large, working with senior administration, deans and development officers to ensure consistent messages and protocol standards.

Cornell came to USC in 1991 as a visiting professor in directing and producing and became managing director of the USC School of Theatre the following year. He was appointed executive director of university events in 1995. He left USC for a short time in 2001 to become executive director of BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio, but returned to USC as chief of protocol and associate senior vice president of university relations. He was responsible for the artistic direction of more than 200 events each year. Arts and Culture at USC, as well as special projects like the university's 125th anniversary celebration and Visions and Voices: The USC Arts and Humanities Initiative, were included in his portfolio.

He also created the USC Impression Series, which includes seminars on business communications and etiquette, dining etiquette and dress for success geared to graduate and undergraduate students as well as young professionals.

Cornell has been a keynote speaker at national conferences including the first Academic Event Professional Conference, The Starlight Foundation and City of Hope. He produced and directed seven of the last eleven HRC Los Angeles dinners including those honoring Barbra Streisand and Janet Jackson.

Prior to joining the faculty at USC, Cornell was vice president of casting and talent development for Columbia Pictures Television and SONY Pictures Television. He also has been a theatrical producer and director.
Cornell received his undergraduate degree from King's College and his master's degree from USC.