leadership contacts
The ASU Foundation is responsible for all aspects of fundraising at
Arizona State University. The foundation is organized into the several key areas listed below.
Office of the President
Johnnie Ray became the new president and chief executive officer of the ASU Foundation in January 2007. Prior to joining the foundation, Johnnie served as senior vice president for development and university relations at Emory University, where he led a staff of 200 associates and was in charge of the department of public relations and communication, alumni relations, special events and continuing education.
From 1996 to 2004, Johnnie served as vice president for development at the University of Texas-Austin, where he oversaw a staff of 130 and led the “We’re Texas” capital campaign that eventually generated $1.6 billion, exceeding its original goal by $600 million.
Johnnie also served as director of development for the sciences at Pennsylvania State University and an associate vice president for development and university relations for McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. Before entering senior level development, Ray was the athletic director at McMurry University and also owned and published a successful local newspaper there, the Focus Weekly.
A native of Texas, Johnnie holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and completed some graduate work at Texas Tech University.
johnnie.ray@asu.edu
480-965-7393
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Jane DiFolco Parker has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the ASU Foundation since July 2010. Prior to joining the foundation, Jane worked at Emory University in Atlanta. She spent 37 years at Emory, serving as vice president for operations in the school’s office of development and alumni relations, as the senior assistant dean of the law school, and as director of admissions. Jane holds a bachelor’s in English from Georgia State University and completed some graduate work in organizational development and strategic planning. She also participated in the Harvard University Institutes for Higher Education Management Development Program.
At the ASU Foundation, Jane oversees the university development and operations and services areas, and is responsible for managing the day-to-day operation of the foundation.
jane.difolcoparker@asu.edu
480-965-8043
Chief of Staff to the President
As chief of staff to the foundation president and CEO, Kristin Donaldson Irwin works closely with senior management to coordinate internal and external relationships and serves as liaison to the university, as well as to various external communities and constituencies.
kristin.irwin@asu.edu
480-727-2772
Leadership Giving
Under the leadership of Jackie Norton, this office supports the fundraising mission of Arizona State University at the leadership giving level, which is defined as investments of $1 million and above. As part of this strategy, the office collaborates with the ASU and ASU Foundation presidents to execute appropriate cultivation, engagement and solicitation plans for individuals with the capacity to invest at this level. Jackie is also responsible for the foundation’s engagement programs, including President’s Club, Women & Philanthropy and the President’s Community Enrichment Programs.
jackie.norton@asu.edu
480-727-7484
Development
Roz Abero, Interim Vice President of Development and Assistant Vice President of Individual Gifts, is a graduate of Emory University with a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in business administration. A native Arizonan, she served as an Assistant Dean of Admission and as Director of Development at Emory University, Arts & Sciences. Since Roz joined the foundation in 2008, she helped build a team of central gift officers who represent the whole of ASU. Roz now serves as Interim Vice President for Development.
roz.abero@asu.edu
(480) 965-6586
Communications and Marketing
Under the leadership of Ann Toca, this office is responsible for developing marketing-communications and media-relations strategies for the foundation and its affiliates, including the ASU Parents Association, Women & Philanthropy and the President’s Club. The department’s products include marketing collateral, websites, presentations, newsletters, media releases, fundraising proposals and solicitations, event management and much more.
ann.toca@asu.edu
480-727-0724
Operations and Services
Under the leadership of Karen Greene, this office oversees prospect management and research, development reporting, gift processing, information technology and scholarship administration. Karen also leads the organization’s technological innovation and database segmentation efforts.
karen.l.greene@asu.edu
480-965-8173
Finance
Under the interim leadership of Virginia (Ginny) Foltz, this office supports the cultivation and development activities of the foundation and the university by providing a wide range of financial services. The office collaborates closely with units across the foundation and university to provide the infrastructure that enables others to achieve their financial goals and objectives.
virginia.foltz@asu.edu
480-965-1791
Real Estate and Development
Under the leadership of Don Couvillion, this office directs the real estate activities of the foundation, including receipt and disposition of real property donated to the foundation. The office also oversees the foundation’s entrepreneurial activities such as SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, and the Brickyard.
don.couvillion@asu.edu
480-965-5945
Corporate Relations
Under the leadership of Shaun Brenton, this office develops and fosters relationships within the corporate sector to match corporate donors with investment opportunities at ASU. More information ››
shaun.brenton@asu.edu
480-965-1475
Foundation Relations
Under the leadership of Jackie Ferguson, this office develops and fosters relationships with local, national and international foundations to match foundation donors with investment opportunities at ASU.
More information ››
jacqueline.ferguson@asu.edu
480-965-9227