University Execs Devocelle, Lee to Receive Prestigious Foundation Award
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is pleased to announce that Christy Devocelle and Brenda S. Lee have each been chosen for the 2024 CASE Commonfund College and University Foundation Award.
Devocelle is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the University of Illinois Foundation, where she is responsible for business development, technology strategy, and financial operations. She has been with the foundation since 1997 and has led a number of transformative projects, including: the redesign and development of the gift accounting process; the conversion of all advancement technology systems; and overseeing the design, construction, and operations of the new University of Illinois Philanthropy Center. Devocelle also has served on numerous nonprofit boards and committees. She is a financial accounting graduate of Illinois State University and has an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Devocelle has been a member of the CASE National Committee for College and University Foundations since 2021 and she chaired the 2023 CASE Conference for College and University Foundations.
Lee joined the University of Toledo Foundation in 1991 and has served as its president for more than 20 years. Under her tenure, assets under management have grown from $30 million to approximately $700 million. She was also instrumental in the merger of the Medical College of Ohio Foundation and The University of Toledo Foundation, as well as adding development, alumni engagement, and special events under the foundation umbrella. Lee has also served on the CASE National Committee for College and University Foundations and she has assisted many other nonprofit groups. She holds a B.S. in accounting from Bowling Green University.
“We are delighted to honor these two exceptional leaders, who have provided years of selfless service to their institutions and to our communities,” says Sue Cunningham, President and CEO of CASE. “They are champions of education and countless people at their universities and beyond are feeling the impact of their efforts. We also thank the Commonfund Institute for partnering with us on this award that shines light on the important role that foundations play in supporting colleges and universities.”
The Commonfund Institute, which underwrites the award, is the research arm of Commonfund, which provides investment management services to nonprofit organizations and other institutions. The award recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement, quality, and effectiveness of their foundations.
Devocelle and Lee will receive their awards at the CASE Conference for College and University Foundations, April 10-12, 2024, in Denver.
About CASE
CASE—the Council for Advancement and Support of Education—is a global, not-for-profit membership association with a vision to advance education to transform lives and society.
CASE is the home for advancement professionals, inspiring, challenging, and equipping them to act effectively and with integrity to champion the success of their institutions. CASE defines the competencies and standards for the profession of advancement, leading, and championing their dissemination and application with more than 97,000 advancement professionals at 3,100 member institutions in 80 countries.
Broad and growing communities of professionals gather under the global CASE umbrella. Currently these include alumni relations, development services, communications, fundraising, government relations, and marketing. These professionals are at all stages of their careers and may be working in universities, schools, colleges, cultural institutions, or other not-for-profits. CASE uses the intellectual capital and professional talents of a community of international volunteers to advance its work, and its membership includes many educational partners who work closely with the educational sector.
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., CASE works across all continents from its regional offices in London, Singapore, and Mexico City to achieve a seamless experience for all its stakeholders, particularly its members, volunteers, and staff.