Tuesday, January 26, 2021
4:00 PM ET
Free for WOC Members - Log-In to RSVP
$20.00 for Non-Members
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, resulting financial crises and the recent racial justice movement, 2020 was an unprecedented year for the fundraising and philanthropic sectors. As we transition into 2021, WOC takes a moment to assess what we've learned and address reflections on how we've coped to manage the personal and professional, what we learned about ourselves, and what best practices we can employ to ensure success in 2021 and beyond.
Come be inspired by our moderator, WOC Advisory Committee member, Zena Lum, Sonia Vasquez, Assistant VP of Institutional Advancement at UT Health San Antonio and other special guests.
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Zena Lum, Executive Director of the Girls' and Boston Latin Academy Association
In addition to Zena’s role at Lindauer as Senior Advisor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Zena is excited to start as the first Executive Director of the Girls' and Boston Latin Academy Association. Zena will be leading the fundraising efforts of this private 501(c)3 raising support for Boston Latin Academy, one of the exam schools in the Boston Public Schools system that was the first college preparatory schools for girls in the country. Zena is also a proud parent of a Latin Academy student, Class of 2023.
This is one of BPS' most diverse high schools and aligns well with Zena’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. As Zena raise funds to support the young, diverse leaders of tomorrow, Zena will be continuing her work with Lindauer to build on its longstanding position as the nation’s #1 firm for advancement search, leveraging its growth to influence hiring, retention, and career advancement for underrepresented professionals of diverse backgrounds and abilities across broader segments of administrative and leadership roles.
With more than 25 years dedicated to mission-driven organizations, Zena has directly raised tens of millions of dollars for leading organizations in Boston such as WGBH, Jumpstart for Young Children, New England Aquarium, and Boston Public Schools; Zena looks forward to continuing her efforts on behalf of Latin Academy. Since joining Lindauer more than 9 years ago, Zena has placed development leaders across the country and across the sector that collectively have raised hundreds of millions more to advance education, the arts, health care, and social and environmental justice. While mission is her “North Star,” successful navigation is predicated on her strengths in building genuine relationships and the ability to see connections and commonalities that lead to high-impact matchmaking in fundraising, recruiting, and talent management.
Andrea Brown, Vice President Of Development, Institute for Community Living, Inc.
Andrea Brown is the Vice President of Development for the Institute for Community Living Inc. (ICL). A leading community-based organization dedicated to providing mental health services to underserved people and families.
For over 13 years, Andrea has worked as a fundraising professional for organizations focused on youth development and education. Prior to joining ICL, Andrea was the Vice President for Philanthropy for Girls Inc. of New York City and served as a member of its executive team. In addition, Andrea has worked as a fundraising consultant and interim executive. Past clients include the Harvard Business School Club of New York and the New York Academy of Sciences. She has served as an Executive Committee and Board members for Women in Development New York—the premier professional organization for women in fundraising and philanthropy.
Before transitioning into the non-profit sector, Andrea had a 13-year career in the book publishing industry, working for art, reference, and academic publishers including Rizzoli and W.H. Freeman & Company. During the last four years of her publishing career, Andrea served as the Director of Special Markets and Export Sales were she oversaw their global sales and distribution team.
Andrea holds a B.S. from Marymount College, Tarrytown (now Fordham University Marymount), a Certificate in Global Philanthropy from New York University, and a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business.
During her free time, Andrea enjoys travel (guess what she’s planning to do when the travel ban is lifted), gardening, and building skills as an amateur genealogist.
Sonia Vasquez, Assistant Vice President of Institutional Advancement at UT Health San Antonio.
Sonia Vasquez is the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
With over 20 years of experience working on fundraising initiatives at the University, she currently provides strategic direction and leadership in the area of Corporate and Foundation Relations, and manages a team focused on excellent stewardship, proposal development and communication with internal and external partners for the benefit of researchers, students and faculty. Her previous roles included the management of alumni relations for three professional graduate schools, event planning and coordination, and individual fundraising managing a major gift donor prospect portfolio in support of research, education, community service and clinical care. In 2020, the UT Health Institutional Advancement team raised just under $1 billion in philanthropic support for UT Health San Antonio.
Sonia is currently responsible for the cultivation and solicitation of major and principle gifts from private foundations and corporations on behalf of the University. She serves as the Institutional point of contact for internal partners including development leadership across all five schools, UT Health San Antonio Institutes and Centers, promoting multi-channel engagement.
Prior to her work at UT Health, Sonia worked for the City of San Antonio in multiple roles including City Council administration. Her work with the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau and San Antonio Film Commission including marketing and public relations activities focused on increasing the visibility of San Antonio as a film destination.
Sonia received her bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of Texas San Antonio and her master’s degree in Communication from the University of the Incarnate Word. She is a 2017 graduate of Leadership Women Texas. Working remotely during the pandemic, Sonia has had the opportunity to work from home with her 16-year old daughter, 11-year old son, (both attending school in their rooms) and husband of 20 years.