Exceptional Leadership and Service
Congratulations to CASE’s 2024 Global and Regional Individual Achievement Awards recipients. These awards celebrate exceptional service to the profession and to educational advancement.
“We’re proud to celebrate our 2024 global and regional awards recipients—particularly as we mark CASE’s 50th anniversary this year,” says Sue Cunningham, CASE President and CEO. “These educational leaders, who we are honoured to recognise, have demonstrated exceptional service, dedication, and impact, sharing a deep devotion to making a difference through supporting the advancement of education in many parts of the globe.”
Through the Global Individual Achievement Awards, CASE celebrates innovation and impact in the profession of educational advancement. Individuals and institutions who receive global recognition have made significant contributions to the field. These are the 2024 recipients.
E. Burr Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award
Lorna Somers, Vice President, Advancement & Alumni Engagement, Mohawk College, Ontario, Canada
Lorna Somers joined the Mohawk College Foundation in 2022. An accomplished fundraiser, Somers spent 35 years at McMaster University, where she secured some of the largest charitable gifts in Canadian history. Involved with CASE since 1996, she served on the CASE Board for six years and has helped design, lead, and present at more than 300 CASE events across the globe.
From her nomination: “CASE members worldwide have been profoundly impacted by Lorna’s warm presence, exceptional professionalism, and amazing wit. She truly embodies the mission of CASE: to inspire advancement professionals to act effectively and with integrity to champion the success of their institutions. Lorna does all that and more.”
John Lippincott Award for Global Advancement and Support of Education Award
Sir Eric Thomas, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Bristol, U.K. (24 March 1953 – 10 November 2023)
Sir Eric Thomas led the U.K. government’s task force on Voluntary Giving to Education in 2004. This landmark report Increasing Voluntary Giving to Education, commonly referred to as the Thomas Report, defined a road map for advancement in the U.K. Sir Eric was a dedicated volunteer for CASE (chairing the CASE Europe Board of Trustees from 2010 to 2014) and a passionate advocate for advancing education. This award is being presented posthumously to Sir Eric’s wife, Lady Narell Thomas, following his passing in late 2023.
From his nomination: “The Thomas report was the catalyst for university investment in fundraising programmes and ongoing commitment to higher education. Its relevance is still observed today.”
James L. Fisher Award for Distinguished Service to Education Award
Arturo Cherbowksi Lask, Director Ejecutivo, Santander Universidades, and Santander Universidades, México
Arturo Cherbowksi Lask has led Santander Universidades since 2011. With more than 20 years of experience working with and supporting higher education institutions, he has been a champion for advancement in Latin America. He has led the international meetings of Rectores Universia and he has been an invaluable partner for CASE. Recently he supported three online programs in Spanish about advancement and the pilot for the first benchmarking study on philanthropy in Latin America.
From his nomination: “Arturo’s leadership and commitment to education globally has allowed institutions to grow, learn, and achieve excellence and impact in our society. His support of professional training and development within the university has had a great impact on institutions and advancement leaders around the globe.”
CASE’s Regional Individual Achievement Awards showcase the outstanding achievements of exceptional professionals in each of CASE’s regions. These are the 2024 recipients.
Carlos Garcia
From his nomination: “Carlos is a generous colleague of integrity who has dedicated his life to the growth of CETYS University and strengthening institutions of higher education in Mexico and Latin America. Carlos is aware of the responsibility that those of us at educational institutions have to form and forge partnership; that is why he has dedicated so much time and energy to support CASE’s mission and strengthen our institutions in order to continue transforming our society.”
“Carlos es un colega generoso e íntegro que ha dedicado su vida al crecimiento de CETYS Universidad y en paralelo a fortalecer a las instituciones de Educación superior en México y América Latina. Carlos es consciente de la responsabilidad que tenemos quienes somos parte de una Institución educativa de formar y forjar ciudadanía, y por ello ha dedicado tanto tiempo y energía a promover CASE, porque apoyar la Misión de CASE es equivalente a fortalecer nuestras instituciones para seguir transformando nuestra sociedad."
Padre Cipriano Sánchez, L. C.
From his nomination: “From the beginning [of his time at Universidad Anáhuac], Cipriano Sánchez García has been characterized by having a broad vision for the institution, both now and for the future, and has motivated all collaborators to embrace it with an innovative spirit. … He is characterized by his human spirit, his closeness to students and collaborators, and his active listening. Thanks to his management style and communication skills, he has bolstered the positive image of the institution.”
“Desde un inicio se ha caracterizado por tener una amplia visión para la institución, tanto en el presente como en su futuro, y ha motivado a todos los colaboradores para abrazarla con un espíritu innovador. … Se caracteriza por su espíritu humano, su cercanía a alumnos y colaboradores y su escucha activa. … Gracias a su estilo de dirección su capacidad de comunicación, ha logrado consolidar la imagen positiva de la institución.”
Salma Dannawi Oueida
From her nomination: “Salma is an exemplary leader and manager. She is a great motivator and has always been a model to our colleagues. Her management, communication, and leadership skills have enabled our team to achieve great success—particularly as our home country, Lebanon, has gone through a challenging period. Her dynamism, elegance, and steadfastness in promoting AUB’s interests has always been and will continue to be an inspiration.”
Professor John Dewar AO
From his nomination: “Professor Dewar has made profound contribution to the Australian higher education sector and the vision and mission of La Trobe University’s Advancement program, and for his achievements in promoting and supporting the power of education to transform lives and enrich communities, particularly in rural and regional areas. He’s cultivated a philanthropic culture across the university that did not exist prior to his arrival … [and] has led the university and broader community to innovate on prominent issues facing the world.”
Julie Morgan Hooper
From her nomination: “Through her exceptional leadership, and through her generous sharing of expertise and innovation at Berkeley and far beyond, Julie has earned the deep respect of her colleagues and made a great difference in advancement for education. Her staff and colleagues have seen and experienced first-hand the far-reaching, positive effects of her leadership. Julie possesses the rare ability to be both tactical and strategic, ambitious and compassionate, practical and visionary.”
James Ryan
From his nomination: “Throughout his 25-year career in academia, Jim has championed access to transformational educational opportunities and led two globally recognized institutions. Academic leaders today must remain true to themselves while embracing, uniting, and transforming their institutions. Jim has done all this and more, with humor, candor, caring, curiosity, dedication, and dignity. He invests himself in service to students, faculty, staff, and alumni.”
Liesl Elder
From her nomination: “Liesl provides leadership and excellence in fundraising and alumni relations across the entire breadth of the Oxford community. The success of the £3 billion Oxford Thinking campaign is testament in itself to Liesl’s outstanding oversight. As important, however, is the critical work that Liesl is currently leading to bring together the resources and expertise to deliver sustained philanthropy over the coming years in support of teaching and research. She is outstanding and a terrific ambassador for the fundraising sector.”
Dame Nancy Rothwell
From her nomination: “During her tenure, Dame Nancy has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to fostering philanthropic initiatives that have significantly impacted the organisation’s growth and success. Dame Nancy has tireless dedication, exceptional leadership, and remarkable achievements. Her ability to inspire support, be it through philanthropy, volunteering, or advocacy, set her apart as a true leader in our field. She has done all this while still maintaining an active research career, making discoveries in energy balance, neurodegeneration, and more.”
Matteo Lai
From his nomination: “Matteo has had an enormous impact, leading on a variety of projects. His dedication to fostering meaningful connections with alumni has not only strengthened our alumni network but also enhanced the overall reputation of Durham University Business School. Matteo stands out as an exceptional emerging professional in alumni relations. He is committed to professional excellence, integrity, respect, collaboration, and embracing diversity as well as his core values as an individual.”
Alex Petrovic
From his nomination: “Our alumni community is incredibly important to University of Brighton and Alex’s understanding and willingness to learn and apply his experience of social media channels to communications with our alumni has been hugely influential on our ability to deliver professional and engaging campaigns. Alex’s understanding and willingness to learn and apply his experience on social media has been hugely influential on our ability to deliver professional and engaging campaigns. … Working with Alex has been a joy.”
Antonia Sauvain
From her nomination: “Antonia’s passion and enthusiasm for enabling the advancement of the University of Southampton shines through in everything she does. From her days as a student ambassador here to her role now as a development manager, Antonia embodies all that we value in our Southampton community. We are hugely fortunate to have such an active and enthusiastic advocate for the university. In her first year Antonia secured income of six-figures, exceeding her target by 50%; Antonia took every opportunity to take our newly established fundraising priorities forward.”
CASE has celebrated these recipients throughout 2024 at CASE’s conferences, including the Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference, CASE Europe Annual Conference, Congreso América Latina, and the Summit for Leaders in Advancement.
Each year, CASE recognizes best practices in advancement and outstanding people who contribute to the growth and understanding of the advancement profession. Learn more about CASE's awards.