Executive Leadership
Vice President for University Advancement
Executive Leadership Council
- Susan Boerstling
- Patty Carocci
- Anne Dean
- Sylvia Galen
- Jennifer Golden
- Erin Hodge
- Dean Regenovich
- Tracy Sullivan
- Jessica Towns
- Andrea Trisciuzzi
- Shomari White
To view additional staff contacts, please visit our Contact Us page.
To view GW University Advancement employment opportunities, please search GW job postings.
David L. Unruh
Vice President for University Advancement
David joined GW in August 2025 from Drexel University, where he served as the Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement over 10 years. During his tenure at Drexel, David conceived and led a comprehensive campaign which exceeded goal, established over 300 new endowed funds, and rejuvenated and enhanced partnership with academic leadership on fundraising. He also championed early engagement with young alumni and established new international advancement initiatives for the university.
With a career spanning more than 30 years in higher education, David has also held notable advancement leadership roles at Temple University and the University of Chicago, as well as senior fundraising positions at the University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon University. David has served as a trustee for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), District II. His current philanthropic work extends to serving as a trustee for the St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children and as a trustee and development committee chair for the Willistown Conservation Trust. David earned his bachelor's degree from Colby College and a master's degree from Bowling Green State University.
Susan Boerstling
Assistant Vice President for Corporate and Foundation Relations
Susan Boerstling, Assistant Vice President, Corporate & Foundation Relations, spearheads foundation and corporate engagement strategy for the university. She joined GW in 2013, and has more than 20 years of development experience specializing in partnerships with institutional funders. Prior to joining GW, Susan was with the Communications Consortium Media Center, a strategic communications nonprofit, for 13 years in a variety of positions, including development director and chief of staff. She also served at Georgetown University in the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations, and at the United Way of Massachusetts Bay in the marketing department. Susan is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Boston College with an A.B. in Communication. She is originally from Maine and enjoys lobster rolls and salt air.
Email: sboerstling
email [dot] gwu [dot] edu (sboerstling[at]email[dot]gwu[dot]edu)
Patty Carocci
Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations and Annual Giving
Patty joined GW in July 2019 to manage alumni engagement and annual giving efforts. She brings more than 25 years of experience in development and alumni relations, including roles at the University of Maryland Smith School of Business, Sidwell Friends School, Catholic University of America, and the University of Pennsylvania. Most recently, she served as Director of Advancement at The Spence School in New York.
At The Spence School, Patty brought management and fundraising expertise that completed the school's fundraising campaign, enhanced parent and alumnae participation, and supported the head of school and board of trustees in key advancement and alumnae initiatives. As the Assistant Dean for development and alumni relations at the UMD Smith School, she designed and implemented a comprehensive advancement program to support strategic initiatives and helped secure the second- and third-largest gifts in the school's history.
Patty earned a B.A. from Hood College and an M.A. from Villanova University.
Phone: 202-994-1969
Email: pcaroccigwu [dot] edu (pcarocci[at]gwu[dot]edu)
Linkedin: Patty Carocci
Anne Dean
Assistant Vice President, Strategic Advancement Solutions
Anne is the assistant vice president of Strategic Advancement Solutions, overseeing the Campaign, Donor Relations, Philanthropic Proposal Development and Research & Relationship Management while liaising with central Communications and Marketing and University Events on large scale projects like GW's Bicentennial in 2021.
A 20-year veteran in the higher education nonprofit fundraising industry, Anne joined GW in 2012 following stints in frontline fundraising, alumni engagement, and prospect development at UC San Diego, Hood College, and Vanderbilt University. An industry volunteer, speaker, and writer, Anne was named an EverTrue 40 under 40 in 2019 and Apra Professional of the Year in 2020. Anne earned her BA in economics, magna cum laude, from Vanderbilt University and completed a certificate in Work Leadership from UC San Diego.
Phone: 202-994-2769
Email: annedeangwu [dot] edu (annedean[at]gwu[dot]edu)
Linkedin: Anne Dean
Sylvia Galen
Assist VP, Advancement Systems & Analytics | Adv. Svcs
Sylvia Galen is responsible for leading initiatives to maintain high standards in advancement systems, foster Power BI usage, and ensure robust training and support of GW's University Advancement office. With a career spanning over two decades in advancement and education, Sylvia has played pivotal roles in driving organizational innovation and efficiency.
At GW, Sylvia has directed multifaceted teams overseeing project management, research, communications, digital engagement, events, and process improvement within Advancement Services. Prior to her tenure at GW, Sylvia held progressive roles in advancement services positions at The Nature Conservancy, where she honed her expertise in project management, prospect research, and training.
Sylvia is a founding member and frequent conference at the Association of Advancement Systems Professionals (AASP). Ms. Galen received her B.A. in American Studies, with a focus on history and sociology, from Vassar College and an M.B.A. from George Washington University.
Phone: 202-994-9373
Email: sgalengwu [dot] edu (sgalen[at]gwu[dot]edu)
Jennifer Golden
Executive Director | Communications
Jennifer Golden rejoined GW in January 2024 as the Executive Director of Communications and Marketing for University Advancement, where she builds communications strategies to strengthen GW's engagement with alumni, donors, and friends.
Jennifer has more than 20 years of experience advancing the missions of higher education, public policy, and international organizations. She has held several roles at GW, including as senior advisor for international strategy in the Office of the Provost and Executive Director of Communications at GW’s Elliott School of International Affairs. Prior to GW, she led strategic communications at the Embassy of Australia, where she oversaw digital and media strategy for embassy leadership and visiting government officials including the Australian prime minister. Jennifer also served in management roles at the International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Council on Foreign Relations, where she was a term member.
Phone: 202-994-2040
Email: jgoldengwu [dot] edu (jgolden[at]gwu[dot]edu)
Erin Hodge
Associate Vice President for Schools and Units
Erin Hodge joined GW on March 6, 2023 as the Associate VP for Schools & Units, providing fundraising management oversight of 7 schools and The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum.
Erin comes to GW from the University of Florida's Warrington College of Business, where she served as Sr. Director of Development & Advancement. She joined Warrington in 2013 after serving as Sr. Director of Development for UF's College of Engineering. Erin participated in 2 comprehensive campaigns at UF, most recently the $4B Go Greater campaign. Erin was previously Assistant VP of Development at Rollins College, where she worked for 11 years, and began her fundraising career at United Way in Daytona Beach. With 25+ years of fundraising experience, Erin's strengths include setting and driving progress toward goals, developing talent, and building culture. A FL native, she earned her BBA from Stetson University and MBA from the University of Central Florida.
Phone: 202-994-2573
Email: erin [dot] hodgegwu [dot] edu (erin[dot]hodge[at]gwu[dot]edu)
Tracy Sullivan
Assistant Vice President of Central Development
Tracy serves as assistant vice president of central development, providing strategic direction for the family philanthropy and regional major gifts teams, and leading the fundraising for university-wide priorities such as the Global Food Institute.
Tracy joined GW in 2011, and has served in multiple fundraising roles within the University Advancement office. Prior to her higher education career, Tracy spent over a decade in the museum industry, leading historic sites and specialized collections. In addition to her BA in history from Haverford College, she is a double alumna of GW, with an MA in museum studies and an MPA with a focus on nonprofit administration. She earned her CFRE in 2013.
Phone: 202-578-3502
Email: tsullivagwu [dot] edu (tsulliva[at]gwu[dot]edu)
Linkedin: Tracy Sullivan
Jessica Towns
Interim Associate Vice President, Health and Medicine Development and Alumni Relations
Jessica joined GWU Health and Medicine in May 2021, bringing more than 15 years of frontline fundraising, as well as leadership within academic medicine from LifeBridge Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, Weill Cornell Medicine in New York and Johns Hopkins Medicine.
In addition to her extensive grateful patient fundraising experience, Jessica managed research and grants within academic medicine, and has ten years of corporate experience in investor relations and corporate communications in the telecommunications industry. Since joining GWU, she has served as a frontline fundraiser and has led the Health and Medicine advancement team as Assistant Vice President, working with the Schools of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing.
Jessica is a graduate of Towson University and is an avid equestrian.
Email: jtownsemail [dot] gwu [dot] edu (jtowns[at]email[dot]gwu[dot]edu)
Andrea Trisciuzzi
Associate Vice President for Principal and Legacy Gifts
Andrea comes to UA from The Catholic University of America, where she was an Associate VP for Advancement. She developed the university's first principal gifts program and worked with academic partners to identify, develop, and raise funds for university-wide strategic priorities.
Prior to joining Catholic University, Andrea was VP of Institution Advancement at Washington College and spent 7 years at Johns Hopkins University as the Associate Dean for External Relations at the Peabody Institute. Before moving to Maryland, Andrea was the Chief Development Officer and Campaign Director for St. Bonaventure University.
Andrea received her BA in Art History from Brown University and her BFA in Vocal Performance from SUNY Purchase. She lives in Annapolis with her husband, their teenage twins, and their dog. Andrea is an avid gardener and loves to travel.
Email: andrea [dot] trisciuzzigwu [dot] edu (andrea[dot]trisciuzzi[at]gwu[dot]edu)
Dean Regenovich
Assistant Vice President for Planned Giving
Dean Regenovich serves as the Assistant Vice President of Planned Giving at GW, where he engages loyal alumni, faculty, grateful patients, and friends of the university to include GW in their long-term philanthropic plans.
Dean has over thirty years of development experience which includes Executive Director of Gift Planning at Indiana University Foundation, Assistant Dean for Advancement at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, AVP of Principal, Major and Planned Gifts at Illinois Institute of Technology and National Director of Charitable Estate Planning at March of Dimes.
He is an Adjunct Faculty member at the Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy and practiced estate planning and tax law prior to beginning his development career. GW is a return to DC for Dean, who is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law School.
Email: dean [dot] regenovichgwu [dot] edu (dean[dot]regenovich[at]gwu[dot]edu)
Linkedin: Dean Regenovich
Shomari White
Associate Vice President for Advancement Operations and Strategy
Shomari White serves as UA's chief operating officer, working with colleagues across the division to establish strategic direction and strengthen infrastructure and systems to support a best-in-class advancement enterprise.
White started at GW in January 2025, coming from Emory University as its senior associate vice president and chief operating officer. He has held roles at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Children’s National Hospital Foundation. White is a past president of AASP, the preeminent network of advancement services leaders. In 2017, he was named Associate Vice President of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals.
A graduate of Howard University and University of Maryland, White served as treasurer of the DC chapter of the National Association of Health Services Executives and a board member of the Maryland chapter of the 100 Black Men of America.