Staff Spotlights

Our people are what drives the UC Foundation and its mission to support UC's aspirations through philanthropy. Read stories of foundation employees and how they have made an impact through a career at the UC Foundation.

View our current opportunities to learn how you can create your own story by joining the UC Foundation team.

 

Caleb Whitted
Executive Director, Presidential Initiatives

An early memory of UC:
My first memories of UC is its run to the NCAA Final Four when I was kid.  I remember watching Nick Van Exel and Corie Blount as they led the Bearcats to the Final Four in 1992.  I followed both of their careers and continued to watch them blossom into their time playing for LA Lakers.  I was so excited to get to meet Nick Van Exel at the AAC tournament in Memphis this year.  Meeting Nick Van Exel is one of the highlights of my time at UC thus far.  

What brought you to the UC Foundation:
As I was preparing for the interview, I read a speech called “Rust Belt to Evergreen: Reinventing the Midwest” that President Pinto delivered to the Commercial Club and Commonwealth Club on Jan. 25, 2018.  Within that speech, President Pinto talked about a path forward for Middle America to move from the Rust Belt to an Evergreen economy.  Having grown up in Middle America, about two hours from UC’s campus, his ideas about how we can transition the Midwest to a place of vibrancy and innovation resonated with me as a place where I could work with President Pinto to enact this vision of an Evergreen Midwest.  After reading that speech, I knew that UC was a place that I wanted to be. 

What you enjoy most about working for the UC Foundation:
I really enjoy how every day is different and the opportunity to work with so many different people on a daily basis.   Working in fundraising is just so rewarding, especially when you get to see donor passions align with institutional priorities to make significant and long lasting.

 

Stephanie Fultz
Director of Grateful Patient and Family Program, UC Health

 

A family tie to UC
"This my first involvement with UC, as I am not from the Cincinnati area; however, my father attended UC back in the day. It was here that he developed, and passed on to me, a deep and abiding love for Skyline Chili.

Creating Change:
Breakthroughs happen here which shape the future of medicine and improve outcomes for so many patients. By engaging grateful patients in this work, we help them focus their philanthropy in ways that will help advance the science of medicine for years to come.
 
Patient Focused:
"The new UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute building is my favorite place on campus. I love the amount of patient-centered thought that went into planning and designing every aspect of the space. I can’t wait to see the difference that it makes for our patients...I really enjoy working with the patients here at UC Health. Getting to hear their stories and play a small role in deepening their connection to the institution is exceptionally rewarding."

Curtis Eaton
Director of Development, University Initiatives

Curtis EatonAn early affinity for UC:
“I am originally from Akron, Ohio and visited UC as a high-school student and several times as a college athlete competing in track and field. During my visits, I’d often think, ‘Wow, UC is a beautiful urban campus.’  I’m assuming that destiny brought us back together."  

What brought you to the UC Foundation:
"Prior to joining UCF, I served in student recruitment roles at UC’s Lindner College of Business and the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Over the years, I have been made keenly aware of student trends, needs, and desires. Affordability, access and opportunity were the most common themes. Ultimately, it was my passion for helping to create extraordinary student experiences that brought me to UCF. I knew I wanted to be a part of the solution that would elevate our University even higher." 

On working at the UC Foundation:
"What drives me daily are the endless possibilities to assist in creating transformative opportunities for UC and UC Health.  I received a button during my first development conference, which reads, ‘It’s not about me.’ This button literally serves as a daily compass, as I work to carry out the mission of UCF."

Favorite part about your role:
"I enjoy the gratification in learning the 'why' behind the reasons our donors give their time, talent, and treasure to UC and UC Health."

Maggie Ibrahim-Taney
Associate Director of Donor Experience & Events

Maggie Ibrahim-TaneyA special connection to UC:
“When our nephew chose to attend UC instead of our alma mater, my wife and I were sad. We soon realized that he would have an opportunity to share with us all that UC had to offer. He kept us updated on the organizations he was involved in on campus, brought us on tours and took us to our first UC football game! He created a connection to UC that was hard to ignore when we returned to Cincinnati after spending ten years in Boston. I knew that UC Foundation was the only place I wanted to continue my career in higher education. With my wife Nadia now working as a career coach in the Carl H. Lindner College of Business, we can truly call ourselves Bearcats!”   

What is your favorite spot on campus:
“You can’t beat a fall day at Nippert with friends, food, and Bearcat football!”

Partnerships are key:
“In my role, I collaborate with our colleagues throughout the Foundation and University partners to create meaningful experiences for our donors and alumni.”

What do you enjoy most about your role with the Foundation:
“I love the team I work with every day. Their drive and passion to create unique experiences for our alumni and donors gives me the fuel I need to want to succeed in this role. They encourage, support and push me to succeed. I am so thankful to call them teammates.“

Khalia Shaw
Prospect Development Manager, Advancement Services

Supporting the research and development process:
“As a part of the prospect research team, I support development officers in the management of their prospect portfolios and other prospect development needs across several UC college units. Essentially, I alleviate the pressure of the many facets of prospect development, including, but not limited to prospect research, identifying key factors to formulate a targeted plan strategy, and ensuring that plans and opportunities are documented correctly.”  

Reaching across teams:
“Collaborative work is a major part of my everyday work life. It is the essential collaborations with development officers, deans, department administrators and my colleagues across UCF departments that ensure I am able to best support the needs of my units: to raise private funds that transform lives.”

Family ties and future goals:
“My daughter, a current student at Cincinnati’s School for the Creative and Performing Arts, performed as a clarinetist on the CCM Corbett Theater stage in 2017. She aspires to apply to CCM when the time comes. It would be awesome to say that not only do I work for the UC Foundation, but my daughter studies instrumentation at the esteemed UC College-Conservatory of Music.” (https://ccm.uc.edu/)

Dillon Wray
Graphic Designer, Communications and Marketing

An early connection to UC:

“UC kick started my education when I was still in high school. As a sophomore, I enrolled in College Credit Plus courses (https://ucclermont.edu/admissions/college-credit-plus.html) and was able to graduate high-school with over 60 credit hours.”

A love for architecture and campus landmarks:

“One of my favorite hobbies is photographing and learning about architecture. Some of my favorite spots on campus are in and around some of our coolest buildings like the Vontz Center for Molecular Studies, designed by Frank Gehry in 1999. I also have a bit of a knack for brutalist architecture and the idea behind it, so I think the Crosley Tower is such a fun/interesting building.”  On working at UC Foundation:

“I really love our team dynamic in the Communication and Marketing department. We make everyone feel included and valued, which is such an important thing for me.”