JMU - Office of Development Staff
Office of Development
Sonja Lovell
2002 Alumni Dr.
MSC 4401
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
PHONE: (800) 296-6162
Office of Development Staff
A staff member at the Office of Development is available during business hours to answer your questions about giving to JMU. Call us toll free at 800.296.6162. We look forward to speaking with you.
Mr. Weston W. Hatfield
Associate Vice President for Development
hatfieww@jmu.edu
540.568.1634
Weston joined the JMU development team in the summer of 2004 after a fifteen-year career in development at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Degrees include a B.A. in Government from the University of Virginia and an M.A. in Community Arts Management from the University of Illinois at Springfield. He and his family (wife Julie and children Ford, Lydia and Weston P. II) are delighted to be a part of the JMU family.
Mrs. Sonja Lovell
Administrative Assistant
lovellsm@jmu.edu
540.568.2620
Office of Major, Corporate and Foundation Giving
Mr. Jeffrey J. Gilligan
Senior Director of Major, Corporate and Foundation Gifts
gilligjj@jmu.edu
540.568.6278
Jeff began his career as a fundraiser 12 years ago. He spent five years working for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and 3.5 years as Vice President of the Arthritis Foundation in Washington, DC. In 1999 Jeff joined the Development office of JMU as a Capital Gifts Officer, in 2000 he became the Director of the Madison Fund, and in 2004 was named Director of Major Gifts. He makes his home in Staunton, VA with his wife Tammy, daughter Addison, son Jack, and the family dog, Bailey.
Ms. Elizabeth Maxwell
Director of Development for the College of Business
maxwelge@jmu.edu
540.568.3228
Elizabeth joined the development staff in 2003 with territories in Virginia and Atlanta. In early 2005, Elizabeth was named Director of Development for the College of Business. Prior to joining the JMU staff, Elizabeth was the executive director of a domestic violence and sexual assault center for 5 years where through grant writing and fund raising strategies she increased the
operational budget 264%, built a new complex debt free, and doubled the staff. Additionally, Elizabeth has 20 years of teaching
experience in world religions, critical thinking, medical ethics, and business ethics. She continues to enjoy fiction and non-fiction freelance writing.
Receiving her AA degree from Peace College, she completed her BA degree at Wake Forest University. Elizabeth also
holds masters degrees from Smith College and University of Virginia.
Mr. Bill McAnulty
Director of Development for
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and
Health and Human Services
mcanulww@jmu.edu
540.568.2570
Bill joined the University's development staff in January 2005 after a twenty-year public relations career in the electric utility industry. A double graduate from James Madison University, Bill holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications Arts ('81) and Master of Public Administration degree ('87). He helped co-found the original Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the JMU Alumni Association. In 1989, Bill was recognized as the recipient of the University's Distinguished Alumni Service Award.
Mr. David Grimm
Director of Development for the College of Arts and Letters
grimmdl@jmu.edu
540.568.7879
David joins the Development staff after 34 years as an entrepreneur in the hospitality industry. During the same period, David served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations serving in many fundraising capacities. For his leadership, David has been recognized as Hospitality Leader of Virginia (1998), International Franchisee of the Year (1995) and at JMU, Distinguished Alumni of the Year (2005). David holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science (’74). He and his w
ife Debbie ('74) are excited to return home to Harrisonburg.
Cynthia Davies Cline ('83)
Director of Development for The College of
Visual and Performing Arts
clinecd@jmu.edu
540.568.3195
Cynthia is a Class of ’83 JMU alumna with a degree in
Communications and minors in Marketing and Art. A New
Jersey native, Cynthia has lived in the Shenandoah Valley area since graduating and has experience in a variety of marketing, sales and development roles in both the private and public sectors including Rockingham Memorial Hospital Wellness Center, WVPT Public Television and two international pharmaceutical companies.
Cynthia will office in the Forbes Performing Arts Center and have close contact with the faculty, programs, projects and performances that are part of this exciting new addition to the JMU landscape. She has a passion for the visual and performing arts, but beyond that a vested interest in furthering advancement opportunities for the university in general.
Cynthia and her husband have three children together and reside in Harrisonburg.
Karen Ahrens Wheatley ('80)
Director of Development for College and University Programs
gunthaka@jmu.edu
540.568.6605
Karen Ahrens Wheatley is a 1980 JMU graduate of the College of Business. She serves as a Director of Development and works with alumni primarily in the metropolitan areas of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD. She also serves as the Director of Development for Parents and the Libraries.
Prior to her relocation to the Harrisonburg area in 1994, Karen served as a Vice President/ Principal in the Commercial Real Estate Division for Bank of America. She began her fourteen year banking career after graduating from JMU. Recently, Karen has been an active fundraiser for the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Free Clinic and other charities through her affiliation with various volunteer organizations.
Karen and her husband, Bobby, have four children and live in Harrisonburg.
Mrs. Jane Lamb
Administrative Assistant
lambjc@jmu.edu
540.568.3196
Jane Lamb has been a member of the Office of Development since 2003. She serves as an Administrative Assistant, and is the Development Office’s financial manager. Jane and her family reside on their farm in Mint Spring, Virginia. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, working with stained-glass, and spending time with her family.
Office of Charitable Gift Planning
Mrs. Susan Fersner
Director of Planned Giving
fersnesl@jmu.edu
540.568.2698
Susan Fersner joined the Development staff in the fall of 2009 after a 28-year career in trust and estate planning, most recently serving as a bank trust executive and senior vice-president. As director of the Office of Gift Planning, Susan partners with JMU alumni, parents, friends, faculty and staff who have provided for gifts to the university in their respective estate plans.
Susan graduated in 1979 cum laude from Clemson University with a B.A. in political science. She and her husband, John, are parents of a JMU student and have a son in high school. Susan is actively involved in many professional and community organizations, including serving on the Board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning, Virginia Gift Council Planning Council, and Valley Alliance for Education. She is a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Waynesboro.
Mrs. Ginna Schenck Bauhan
Coordinator, Office of Planned Giving
bauhanvs@jmu.edu
540.568.8938
Ginna joined the development staff in January 2011 after working for the Harrisonburg City Public Schools for over five years. Previously, she was on the staff of the U.S. Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission and subsequently worked on military base closure and reconversion issues for Virginia Governor George Allen. She was a Realtor with Bowers, Nelms and Fonville in Richmond.
A North Carolina native, Ginna graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a B.A. in History. She and her husband, Hobey, have two daughters.
Mrs. Kathy Sarver
Assistant Director
Office of Planned Giving
sarverkb@jmu.edu
540.568.3440
Office of Annual Giving
Mrs. Sheila Williams Smith
Director, Office of Annual Giving
willi2ss@jmu.edu
540.568.3564
Sheila joined the JMU development team in the summer of 2003 after a ten-year career in Student Affairs at JMU, St. Joseph’s University, Western Illinois University and Washburn University. Degrees include a B.B.A in Marketing from Washburn University and an M.S. in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University. Sheila and her family (husband Dan and children Alexander and Amelia) are delighted to be part of the JMU family.
Mrs. Samantha Royer
Administrative Assistant
Office of Annual Giving
royersd@jmu.edu
540.568.3863
Samantha Royer joined the Office of Annual giving in September 2006 after working several years in the Valley Mall Management Office. Samantha grew up and lives in the Broadway with her husband Adam.
Mrs. Jillian Young
Associate Director
Office of Annual Giving
youngjk@jmu.edu
540.568.2644
Prior to joining the JMU family Jillian worked as a Blood Donor Recruitment Coordinator for the American Red Cross Heart of America Blood Services Region. Jillian was responsible for recruiting volunteer groups and businesses to sponsor blood drives across 13 counties in Western Illinois and Eastern Iowa. Her territory brought in over 7,000 units of blood annually.
Jillian graduated from Bradley University in Peoria, IL with a Bachelors degree in Public Relations and minors in both Marketing and Political Science. Jillian and her husband Ken reside in Bridgewater, VA and spend much of their spare time coaching competitive speech.
Mr. Taylor Schwalbach
Director of Development for
Office of Annual Giving
schwalts@jmu.edu
540-568-8840
Taylor graduated from James Madison University with a BS in Kinesiology – Sport and Recreation Management with a minor in General Business (’09). Prior to working in the Office of Annual Giving, Taylor spent 1.5 years working with the Duke Club. A Shenandoah Valley native, Taylor lives in Harrisonburg and enjoys traveling and partaking in outdoor activities in his spare time.
Mr. Matt Salvatore
Telefund Coordinator
Office of Annual Giving
salvatma@jmu.edu
540.568.8902
