“As humanity struggles with so many interlocking global crises, it has never needed the people of MIT more than it does now.”
—Sally Kornbluth, MIT President

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) retained Solmonese Search Partners (SSP) to conduct five searches for the School of Engineering. The Institute is where I began my professional career and received an introduction to the field of advancement. Working at MIT has always been an honor for me. Since its founding in 1865, the Institute has attracted talented faculty, gifted students, and accomplished researchers who tackle the greatest challenges facing society, alleviate human suffering, and create communities where people may grow and thrive.

MIT is a pioneering institution of higher education, offers a rigorous course of study, and conducts transformational research, and it is also a source of hope.  It is at the forefront of what the biographer Walter Isaacson called, “the third great revolution” in innovation, which was launched with the sequencing of the human genome and the utilization of RNA therapy to treat disease.  MIT builds upon these breakthroughs, utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to research, and harnesses the power of AI to revolutionize health care solutions.

MIT also has attracted a global community of individuals who wish to protect our ecosystem and create a healthy environment for generations to come.  In her inaugural speech, President Sally Kornbluth challenged the MIT community to address climate change: “What could we do that would really move the needle—and break the dial? Wouldn’t it make you proud to be part of the team that went all in, on the most important question of our time?”

In recent months, SSP successfully concluded searches at other organizations that are all leaders in their fields, preparing and training members of their communities to champion civil rights, educating the next generation of leaders, and providing services to the most vulnerable members of society.  They include the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, the National Endowment for Financial Education, and Swarthmore College. Please read about these searches and the individuals we placed in the “Closed Searches” section below.

In each newsletter, I feature someone who has served as a partner to the firm.  In this edition, I highlight Shelley Brown who has been a valued supervisor, mentor, and friend to me since I entered into the field of prospect research at MIT.  It has been a wonderful partnership for many years.  I am delighted that we may continue to collaborate on an exciting new project. 

Finally, I recently developed a document for candidates engaged in an SSP search.  Please see the “Candidate Guidelines” section for information on this document and a link to where you may read it.

Thank you, as always, for your support. — John

OPEN SEARCHES

Heather Kispert Hagerty, assistant dean for development at the School of Engineering (SOE), engaged Solmonese Search Partners to conduct searches for four leadership giving officers (LGO) roles and one director of development position. Each LGO will be assigned to lead fundraising efforts for an individual department within SOE. The departments they will support include Biological Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and the Institute of Medical and Engineering Science. A director of development will be recruited to support the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Funds generated by development efforts will expand the possibilities in the field of engineering; provide faculty with the resources they need to conduct groundbreaking research and drive innovation; and offer students the education and training they require to tackle difficult challenges and find solutions to complex problems.

Development Roles Available

• Director of Development (EECS)

• Leadership Giving Officer (BE)

• Leadership Giving Officer (CEE)

• Leadership Giving Officer (MSE)

• Leadership Giving Officer (IMES)

Position descriptions for MIT development roles are available here.

CLOSED SEARCHES

Legal Defense Fund

In the fall of 2022, Solmonese Search Partners (SSP) helped the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) recruit a director of corporate giving, an executive director of individual giving, and a director of planned giving. Then in 2025, LDF returned to SSP to identify a chief development officer (CDO) to oversee private philanthropic fundraising efforts at LDF and two key positions on the individual giving team. Pam Giller assumed the CDO role while Wendy McNeil was named to an associate director position overseeing individual fundraising on the East Coast and Drew Santos was appointed to the director of major gifts role for the West Coast. Throughout their careers and in their personal lives, all three have been deeply committed to advocating for civil rights and racial justice. Giller reports to Todd Cox, associate director-counsel of LDF. McNeil and Santos report to Gary Whidbee, executive director of individual giving.

See detailed information on all SSP hires using link at end of the section. 

Swarthmore College

In August 2024, Sarah Pearson, vice president for advancement at Swarthmore College, engaged Solmonese Search Partners (SSP) to help fill some key roles on the development team. In 2025, the college re-engaged SSP to recruit an assistant director, individual giving, and a director of individual giving. Both hires will serve on a team led by Josie Burri, associate vice president, capital giving and campaigns. Kevin McGuire was appointed to serve in the newly created post of director of individual giving, and Shaun McNulty was hired to serve as an assistant director, individual giving.

   See detailed information on all SSP hires using link at end of the section. 

The Lawrenceville School

Greta Morgan, chief advancement officer at The Lawrenceville School, recently appointed Stephanie Truesdell to serve as director of principal and major gifts. A native of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and a graduate of Stuart Country Day School in neighboring Princeton, Truesdell gained her first exposure to development as an undergraduate at Brown University where she volunteered as a senior class gift officer. She went on to hold development roles at Harvard Law School, Milton Academy, and Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton.

See detailed information on all SSP hires using link at end of the section. 

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services

Dean Teague, CEO of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services (MVCS), appointed Patrick Ramage as chief advancement officer.  Ramage joins MVCS following a 28-year tenure with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).  During his career with IFAW, he held positions overseeing marine conservation, partnerships with non-governmental organizations, public affairs, and communications.  Ramage also secured funds from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support key IFAW programs.

 See detailed information on all SSP hires using link at end of the section.

National Endowment for Financial Education

Billy J. Hensley, National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) president and chief executive officer, appointed Jennifer Parker to serve as vice president, organizational effectiveness and operations, in July 2025. During her career, Parker held positions in human resources, served as an instructor, and oversaw leadership training and workplace development programs.  Most recently, she served as assistant director, HR operations at the Colorado Community College System.  Earlier roles were held with the Denver Public Schools and the Pueblo Police Department.

   See detailed information on all SSP hires using link at end of the section.

CANDIDATE GUIDELINES

When I launched my firm, I placed great importance on the candidate experience. I want candidates to be at their best when they meet with client institutions, well prepared for their conversations, and professional throughout the entire process. These guidelines should serve as a helpful tool when you enter a search or consider a new opportunity.

                                           Candidate Guidelines

PARTNERS

 
Shelley S. Brown retired in May 2025 as vice president of operations at the Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, concluding a distinguished 21-year tenure and a 40-plus-year career as a leader in fundraising operations, research, and technology. A pioneer in the field, she founded and led development research and systems functions at MIT, Boston University, and Tufts University—building high-performing teams and scalable infrastructure at a time when the profession was still defining itself. Throughout her career, Shelley has been widely respected for advancing prospect strategy and analytics to support transformational philanthropy. 

Shelley has consulted and presented extensively on prospect development strategy and organizational effectiveness. She has also served in leadership roles on the boards of the Association of Fundraising Professionals MA and APRA, and was a founding member of the New England Development Research Association. In 2024, she was honored with the Milestone Achiever Award for leadership by the Boston Children’s Hospital Women’s Alliance. Shelley considers her greatest professional legacy to be the talented staff she recruited, mentored, and developed across every institution she served. 

Shelley has also embraced a second rewarding career as an actor in Boston and regional theatre, and is a founding member of Titanic Theatre Company. She holds a BA, magna cum laude, in American Literature and Theatre from the State University of New York at Albany and pursued graduate study in theatre at Tufts University.

Among Shelley’s many accomplishments, she has designed and conducted surveys to gauge the interests of alumni in their alma mater, to identify factors that influence company founders and impact their decision-making, and to assess donors on their inclinations and capacity to support an organization. SSP decided to tap into Shelley’s expertise to develop a survey exploring the question, “What makes a successful planned giving program?”  We selected perhaps the most highly specialized area within the field of development to help us understand what type of candidates planned giving leaders will need to achieve their ambitious goals.