Executive Biographies

John has more than 40 years of experience in higher education management. Previously, he was vice chancellor for advancement at the University System of Maryland and president/chief executive officer of the University of Maryland Foundation. At the University of Bridgeport, he was vice president for university relations. He has served as both a member and chair of the Foundation Leadership Committee of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB). Additionally, he has served as treasurer of the Council for Advancement and Support of Higher Education (CASE), as well as chair and member of numerous CASE committees. He has earned three CASE awards, including the District I Distinguished Service Award (1977), the District II Distinguished Service Award (1991) and the Professional Leadership Award for a foundation with more than $100 million in assets (2002).

John earned a B.S. in business administration and an M.B.A. from the University of Bridgeport.

Kevin A. Edwards
Vice President of Finance and Chief Investment Officer
860.486.1203
kedwards@foundation.uconn.edu
Kevin, who joined the Foundation in 1997, manages the investment of assets, cash, debt compliance and deferred gift administration. He is a member of the steering committee for the Student-Managed Fund, which gives UConn business students the opportunity to manage the portfolio of a $2-million endowment from the Foundation. Kevin is a CFA charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute and the Hartford Society of Financial Analysts. Additionally, he sits on the boards of directors for the Connecticut Hedge Fund Association and the Granby Education Foundation. Previously, Kevin worked for eight years at George Weiss Associates managing accounting and reporting for domestic and international hedge fund partnerships. For four years prior, he worked in public accounting at Blum Shapiro & Co. PC, focusing on the audit of investment firms and non-profit organizations. Kevin graduated cum laude with a B.S. in accounting from the University of Connecticut.

Suzanne M. O’Conor
Counsel
860.486.4436
soconor@foundation.uconn.edu
Suzanne manages and coordinates legal work for all departments within the Foundation. Before assuming her current role as counsel in 2000, Suzanne served as a development officer in charge of planned gifts from 1995 to 1999. Prior to joining the Foundation, Suzanne was an associate at Shipman & Goodwin. She is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Suzanne graduated with high honors with a J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law, and with honors with a B.A. in economics from the College of Holy Cross.

Brian J. Otis
Vice President for Development & Campaign Management
860.486.5960
botis@foundation.uconn.edu
Brian serves as the point person for the Foundation’s capital campaign. Brian’s responsibilities include planning and implementing effective fundraising strategies. He identifies and solicits top-tier prospective donors and works closely with major contributors. Brian also supervises a staff of five development officers. Since joining the Foundation in 1998, Brian has held positions as an assistant director for major gifts and both associate director and director of development for the School of Business. Previously, he served as a development and major gifts officer at Cheshire Academy, a preparatory school in Cheshire, Conn. Brian earned a B.A. from Castleton State College and an E.M.B.A. from the School of Business at the University of Connecticut.

Brian blogs about Our University. Our Moment. The Campaign for UConn at "Campaign Developments."

Frank Gifford
Vice President for Development
860.486.6798
fgifford@foundation.uconn.edu
Frank has been with the UConn Foundation since 1995, serving in a wide variety of roles, most recently as acting vice president for development in addition to serving as senior development director for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Frank owns an impressive track record of superior fundraising experience with significant organizational and strategic planning skills. He began working at the University of Connecticut in 1993 as a special assistant to the President. At the Foundation, Frank has held positions of increasing responsibility, among them director of campaign operations for Campaign UConn, director of corporate & foundation relations at the UConn Health Center, and director of development for CLAS. As Senior Director of Development since July 2009, Frank has also provided oversight and mentorship to development staff in several Schools and Colleges. Frank earned his Master’s degree in Economics from UConn’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences in 1994. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of New Hampshire.

Dina Plapler
Vice President for Development
Office of Development and Alumni Relations, UConn Health Center
860.679.8077
dplapler@foundation.uconn.edu
Dina is responsible for the management of fundraising activities associated with the University of Connecticut Health Center. She has extensive fundraising management experience, with expertise in major giving, special events and planned giving. She comes to the UConn Foundation from the new Connecticut Science Center, where she was responsible for a multi-million dollar major giving program and helped them to achieve their campaign goal of $160 million. Well-known and highly respected throughout the community, Dina has well-established relationships with senior corporate executives and community leaders. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University, a law degree from Georgetown University and is an adjunct graduate faculty member of Bay Path College.