Prospect Management, Research & Analytics

Chelsea Laxer
Prospect Manager

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Chelsea Laxer joined the team in October 2022. She has worked in the prospect development field for over a decade, with experience in both higher education and cancer center organizations. Most recently she was a senior prospect management analyst at the University of Colorado, supporting the fundraising team at the Anschutz Medical Campus. She earned a BA from UConn and an MS in Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University.

Chelsea currently resides in Colorado with her husband, one-year-old daughter, dog and cat.

Megan Randall
Researcher

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As senior prospect researcher, Megan Randall works as a mentor and trainer for our new expanded team, specializing in customer service and reporting in Advance, Cognos, and Evertrue. Megan started at Darden in 2005 as a communications associate, then moved to MBA for Executives as their project coordinator. In 2012, she moved to the College of Arts & Sciences as a development associate, then development coordinator. She joined University Advancement in 2018 as a prospect researcher.

When Megan isn’t pouring over spreadsheets and other information, she writes romance and paranormal books and fosters dogs from the SPCA. A daughter of a diplomat, she speaks Portuguese (not well at all) and Spanish (better) and enjoys cooking food that reminds her of her time in South America. 

Lilly Suwinski
Analyst

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Lilly Suwinski joined the PMR&A team in March 2023 after previously working for the Northwestern Memorial Foundation, where she was part of the Prospect Research and Development team. Lilly liaises with the Health System Development team on reporting, data analysis, and goal setting to drive fundraising success.

In her spare time, Lilly enjoys taking on new artistic projects, traveling to both familiar and new places, and trying out new recipes. She lives in Chicago with her husband, Tom, and their two cats, Brady and Bucatini.

David Ornelas
Prospect Manager

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David Ornelas joined University Advancement in October 2022. He is a San Diego native with extensive hospitality experience, which is where he developed a passion for customer service leadership. He earned his bachelor's degree from California State University, San Marcos, and his master's from Brandman University. After relocating to Georgia in 2015, he worked at the University of Georgia in development and alumni relations, most recently as associate director of annual giving at the School of Law.

David lives in Winder, Georgia with his wife, Loupa, daughter, Olivia, and dog, Rocket.

Rima Masters
Researcher

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Rima Masters joined the PMR&A team in May 2023. Previously, she was a Development Associate with Health System Development, and has worked for UVA since 2004. Rima compiles, analyzes, and verifies biographical and financial information, and develops comprehensive reports on potential donor prospects.

In her spare time, Rima teaches fitness classes, is an amazing cook who loves making Middle Eastern food, and is into all kinds of music and audio books. She loves spending time with her husband, Ray, and her two dogs, London and Nile.

Ryan Collins
Analyst

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Ryan Collins joined the PMR&A team in April 2023. He provides data analysis to aid in fundraising efforts for units across Grounds in Pod 2.

Ryan was previously a major gift officer for Athletics at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.

Deb Darling
Prospect Manager

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Deb Darling joined University Advancement in October 2022. She has more than 30 years of fundraising experience in major gifts and prospect development, most recently for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Previously, Deb served in leadership roles for Imperial College London, Brandeis University, Marquette University, and Washington and Lee University. She also worked as a major gifts fundraiser for Berea College (KY) and Director of Development for Comfort Zone Camp (VA). Deb started her fundraising career at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, eventually becoming a consultant with Bentz Whaley Flessner. She received her BA in history from the University of Virginia.

Deb lives in Lexington, Virginia with her fur baby and rescue dog, Claudette.

Akilah Blakey
Researcher

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Akilah Blakey provides prospect research briefs and analysis to schools and units across Grounds, and works in the strategic space to facilitate advancement activity University-wide. Akilah came to us from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, where she served as a development research and prospect strategy associate. Previously, she worked with the Minnesota state government as a strategic performance planner. She holds a B.A. from the University of Puget Sound and a Master of Science in Technical Communication & Design of User Experience from Metropolitan State University.

Akilah loves to snowshoe, cook, and read about medieval history.

Becky Collier
Analyst

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Becky Collier joined the PMR&A team in April 2023. She provides strategic support, goal setting, and data analysis for units across Grounds in Pod 3. Previously, she worked for the University of Lynchburg as a prospect development analyst, collaborating on major giving and planned giving strategy and portfolio management. Prior to joining higher education, Becky spent 15 years working in non-profits in Seattle, spanning alternative education and young adult leadership development.

In her free time, Becky loves to garden (mostly heirloom veggies, but she has a growing collection of dahlias and peonies), cook, and work on her family’s nearly 140 year-old house. She lives in Lynchburg, Virginia with her husband, two children, and music-howling black lab, Cole.

Alison Freeman
Prospect Manager

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Ali Freeman joined the UA community as an Assistant Director of Prospect Management in November 2022. Ali provides information for development officers across Grounds and partners with our team and unit leaders to provide guidance and strategy to help fundraisers achieve their goals. Prior to coming to UVA, Ali was a Lead Senior Research for 8 years at the University of Minnesota. Where she worked with frontline fundraisers on portfolio development, research, and prospecting.

Outside of work Ali enjoy spending time with family, reading, and traveling. Ali lives in Minnesota with her husband, Zach, two children, Max, and Tucker. 

Amelia Kelly
Researcher

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Amelia Kelly is a 2005 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, but we don't hold that against her. Prior to joining the PMR&A team in January 2023 she worked in government affairs for Edwards Lifesciences and was previously in marketing and membership development at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Amelia provides research and information for development officers across Grounds and partners with our prospect management and unit leaders to provide guidance and strategy to help fundraisers achieve their goals.

Amelia lives in Charlottesville with her husband, Ned, two children, Jane and Edward, dog, Isla, and in her spare time is a competitive runner, avid reader and travel enthusiast.

Alyssa Champa
Analyst

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Alyssa Champa joined the Prospect Management, Research and Analytics team in July 2023. Before coming to UVA, Alyssa attended the University of Dallas and then joined their Advancement Team under Alumni Relations. In this role, she managed alumni communications and events, provided donor stewardship, and ensured accurate alumni and donor data.

Outside of work, she loves to travel, bake, and watch movies. Alyssa and her husband are always looking for their next place to try new desserts.

Delia Kloh
Prospect Manager

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Delia Kloh rejoined UVA in January 2021, and is currently an Assistant Director of Prospect Management. Prior to returning to UVA, Delia was Director of Prospect Development at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee in Colorado Springs, where she oversaw all aspects of prospect development and co-led an implementation of Salesforce for the foundation. Additionally, she has held roles in prospect development at Smith College, UCLA and here at UVA from 2007-2012. Delia also worked at Columbia University, and was a member of the Kenyon College Fund Executive Committee for 6 years.

Delia is a graduate of Kenyon College where she received her degree in Anthropology. She resides in Charlottesville.

Chris Hubert
Assistant Director of Prospect Research

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Chris joined UA in 2005 and has been working in prospect management and research for almost his entire career at UVa.  He is a former Publicity Chair for Apra-VA and, in addition to his degrees in Russian Literature from UVA, earned a Certificate of Leadership from the School of Continuing Studies in 2013.

Teresa Liu
Associate Director for Prospect Analytics

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Teresa came to UVA from the Art Institute of Chicago, where she worked for the last six years as Associate Director of Prospect Management. In this role, she facilitated portfolio consultations, delivered forecasting & analytics to gift officers, and identified new prospects for the museum. Prior to the Art Institute, Teresa worked in community economic development and marketing research.

Teresa resides in Chicago, Illinois with her husband, Sam. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, rock climbing, hiking, visiting museums, and trying new restaurants. Teresa serves on the board of Apra-Illinois.

Sarah Robinson
Assistant Director for Pipeline Analytics

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Sarah joined the PMR&A team in July 2023. She has been with University Advancement since 2019, previously in the role of Donor Relations Coordinator. Sarah supports the Office of Engagement and Annual Giving on their reporting and analytics needs, helping to build the pipeline of support for current and future campaigns.

Sarah is a proud double Hoo (College’ 18, Darden/McIntire MSBA ’23) currently based in Richmond, Virginia. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, listening to thrift shop records, exploring old ruins on her travels, and completing crossword puzzles and trivia games with her fiancée, Ryan.