The External Relations Operational Leadership Committee

The External Relations Operational Leadership Committee coordinates and manages the operational needs of the External Relations organization. This includes Business Technology Services, Community & Culture, Facilities, Finance, Human Resources, and Learning & Development.

The six members of this committee work together closely to provide operational oversight for External Relations, an organization with over fifty departments that roll up to four distinct units:  the Office of Development (OOD), University Communications (UComm), Government Affairs (OGA), and Community Engagement (OCE).

The goal of creating a shared services delivery model for important administrative functions is to allow each of the four units in External Relations to focus on outreach to donors, volunteers, alumni, and the university’s extended community. This model enables administrative and support resources to be leveraged across the entire organization, resulting in consistent service levels and business practices.  

The committee provides support for ongoing functions, as well as strategic planning for new initiatives. It is tasked with looking broadly across all External Relations departments to find synergies, streamline activities, eliminate redundancies, ensure adherence to university guidance and regulations, and align operational functions so they are as effective and efficient as possible. The committee strives to be excellent business partners and trusted advisors and to support the mission and values of Stanford University.

Business Technology Services

Under the guidance of Kathy Pappas-Kassaras, who serves as the Chief Information Officer, Business Technology Services (BTS) empowers External Relations and Stanford Alumni Association staff to foster stronger constituent engagement. This is achieved through strategic technology leadership, effective solution delivery, and continuous technical assistance. Collaborating closely with University IT, BTS ensures ongoing support, maintenance, and improvements to vital enterprise systems.

Visit https://bts.stanford.edu/ and for service and support:  https://stanford.service-now.com/alumni_donor_services

Community & Culture

Led by Stephany Baker, the Assistant Vice President of the Community & Culture (C&C) team in External Relations, C&C is committed to fostering a culture and community that creates opportunities for collaboration, learning, development, and workforce appreciation in service to Stanford University. C&C’s goal is to build connections that promote transparent practices and decision-making while cultivating an environment of respect, empathy, and kindness. C&C achieves impact by instilling these practices, which aim to cultivate an environment where employees enjoy working together, welcome and encourage the genuine exchange of diverse perspectives, learn from one another, and achieve organizational goals built on mutual understanding, purpose, empathy, education, and recognition. 

Facilities and Services 

Led by Matt Williams, Director of Facilities for the Stanford Alumni Association and External Relations, the Alumni Center Facilities and Services team provides operational and facilities support to SAA & External Relations. The team manages everything from signage to furnishings, emergency preparedness, space renovations, security and access as well as the fleet of carts and vehicles on the main and the Redwood City campus locations.  The team is now also managing the On-Site Roles Management system and they provide mail and guest services support at the Alumni Center. If you need assistance in any of these areas they can be reached via ServiceNow.

The team also manages the event space at the Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center. See the center’s events page for any questions or to reserve space.

Finance

Led by Daphna Davidson, Associate Vice President, the finance team serves as stewards of our External Relations resources. Partnering closely with managers and their staff, the team helps ensure we use our funds responsibly and that our departments have the resources they need to be effective. The finance team also helps our departments adhere to University and External Relations policies and guidelines by providing support and oversight for the many staff who process financial transactions.

Our aim is to build a solid financial foundation on which External Relations staff can pursue excellence while maintaining a high degree of cost efficiency with respect to the University’s limited unrestricted resources. Buttressed by continual process improvement, we approach our work with deep commitment and great enthusiasm.

In addition to budget management, the finance team supports gift reporting, campaign tracking, data analysis, and gift and related reporting for the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees. We have oversight of most of the University’s gift-matching programs. And we provide billet tracking and position-management oversight for our colleagues in Human Resources.

Each member of the finance team is an expert in operational budget management and gift analysis. The team is equally proficient in CARD, PostGrads, and Oracle-based tools such as Business Intelligence (BI).

Human Resources

Led by Andrea Moore, Senior Director, the External Relations Human Resources team provides strategic HR guidance and consultation for staff, managers, and leaders. The HR team’s guiding principles include acting with integrity, championing diversity and inclusion, promoting open and honest communication, supporting a respectful and equitable workplace, and adopting a culture of lifelong learning and continuous improvement. We promote and support our outstanding staff who thrive in a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace.

Areas of focus include talent management, workforce planning, talent acquisition, performance management, organizational design, employee engagement, change management, and compensation, rewards, and recognition program administration.  Our HR team also partners with University Human Resources and other units across the campus to share ideas and best practices, streamline processes, and collaborate on initiatives.

Learning & Development

Led by Nirit Hazan, Director, Learning & Development (L&D) aims to continually enhance the knowledge, skills, and competencies of External Relations staff, and by extension, faculty members and volunteers. L&D provides innovative and practical performance and collaboration support through learning experiences, coaching, team development, and consulting resources.

The team provides a wide array of learning opportunities, focusing on fundraising skills, operational business training,  policies, team performance and collaboration (including 5 Dynamics), and more.  In partnership with HR, Community and Culture, and other units, L&D offers programs that support the development of inclusive culture, respectful dialogue, and psychological safety.