Amy Yancey

President and Chief Executive Officer

Amy Yancey is president and CEO, leading a team of approximately 180 professionals. She oversees all philanthropic fundraising, alumni relations and engagement activities, and investment of the endowment for the entire University—including all campuses, UConn Health, and the Division of Athletics. Amy serves on University President Radenka Maric’s Senior Leadership Team, working closely with administrators and deans from across UConn. Yancey has a proven track record of building momentum and achieving increasing levels of philanthropic support as a senior leader of institutional advancement. Before coming to the Foundation in January 2024, Yancey was vice president for development at Boston College, overseeing fundraising for financial aid, the student and athletic experience, and academic programs. Previously, Yancey served on the senior leadership team at the University of Virginia, and led fundraising teams at Pennsylvania State University and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in plant sciences and agricultural economics.

Montique (Mo) Cotton Kelly

Chief People Officer and Senior Vice President for Alumni Relations

Mo Cotton Kelly serves as the Chief People Officer and Senior Vice President for Alumni Relations at the University of Connecticut Foundation, where she leads with a visionary approach to organizational culture, talent development, and alumni engagement. In her role as Chief People Officer, Cotton Kelly oversees Employee Support and Experience, Board of Directors operations, and the cultivation of a workplace culture rooted in inclusivity, excellence, and strategic alignment with organizational goals.

A nationally recognized leader in higher education advancement, Cotton Kelly brings more than two decades of experience to her work, shaping people strategies that empower teams and foster long-term organizational success. Her commitment to mentoring women in leadership and her role as a sought-after speaker on topics such as inclusive leadership, talent management, and alumni relations underscore her influence across the sector.

Since joining the University of Connecticut in 2014, Cotton Kelly has led transformative alumni engagement efforts, connecting more than 295,000 alumni worldwide and strengthening lifelong relationships with the university. Prior to her tenure at UConn, she served as Executive Director of the Alumni Association at Bowling Green State University (BGSU), where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Cotton Kelly is also a dedicated contributor to the advancement profession, currently serving as Secretary of the Board of Trustees for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to innovation, excellence, and the power of community in shaping the future of education.

Suzanne M. O’Conor

General Counsel

Suzanne O’Conor manages and coordinates legal work for all departments within the UConn Foundation. Before assuming her current role as General 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 in Hartford, Conn. A member of the Connecticut Bar Association and the American Bar Association, Suzanne graduated with high honors with a JD from the University of Connecticut School of Law, and with honors with a BA in economics from the College of Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass.

David L. Carney, CFA

Senior Vice President and CFO

David L. Carney, CFA was named senior vice president and CFO of the University of Connecticut Foundation in September 2021. In this capacity, he oversees the organization’s finance, fund administration, and facilities functions and manages the investment team responsible for the Foundation’s endowment. Prior to joining the Foundation, Carney served as an investment manager and Managing Director at BlackRock. During his sixteen-year tenure at BlackRock, he managed investment portfolios for endowments, foundations, and other institutional clients, overseeing over $20 billion in assets under management, and earlier served as an advisor to the Federal Reserve Bank of NY and other financial entities and central banks in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis. Before arriving at BlackRock, Carney held various roles in commercial banking with Bank of America and BNY Mellon. Carney is a CFA charterholder and holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a Master of Business Administration from Boston College.

Jennifer Sargent

Senior Vice President of Advancement Services

Jennifer leads Advancements Services operations at the UConn Foundation with a focus on utilizing data, technology and innovation to propel the Foundation forward. This includes the oversight of gift processing, pledge management, programming services, research/prospect management and business intelligence. Jennifer joined the Foundation in 2001 as a Research Analyst and has served in many capacities during her career including Director of Research, Prospect Management and Data Services, where she played a key role in the implementation of the Foundation’s CRM platform. She is a member of the Blackbaud Higher Education Executive Advisory Board and holds a BS in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University.

Michael Van Sambeck

Vice President of Principal Giving and Campaign Director

Michael Van Sambeck is Vice President of Principal Giving and the Because of UConn Campaign Director. He leads central university giving teams, including principal gifts, regional fundraising, and planned giving development. Michael provides strategic direction for key relationships across the university, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and long-term goals. He also manages transformational donor relationships, offering strategic guidance to help them achieve meaningful philanthropic impact. In addition to his role in Principal Giving, Michael is responsible for running the most ambitious campaign in UConn’s history – the $1.5B Because of UConn campaign, helping to lead UConn boldly into the future. Before joining the UConn Foundation, Michael advised senators in the Connecticut General Assembly where he aligned their initiatives with district needs along with managing state senate campaigns. A dual UConn alumnus, Michael holds both an MBA and a BS in history.

Rachel Marshall

Vice President of School and Programs Giving

Rachel Marshall is the Vice President of School and Programs Giving at UConn. Rachel leads the overall fundraising strategy and operations for the departments of Constituent Programs, Schools & Colleges Development & Alumni, and Corporate and Foundation Relations. She also serves as the liaison to the Office of the Provost. Rachel manages relationships with alumni making a philanthropic impact at UConn, helping them align their passions with the university’s needs. She joined the Foundation in 2009 as Program Director for Constituent Groups and has held various positions in her tenure. Notably, she launched the “Ignite” student philanthropy crowdfunding program as Associate Director of Annual Giving and served as Senior Director of Development for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Before joining UConn, Rachel managed Independent School partnerships at Earthwatch Institute, funding global field research opportunities for teachers. She holds a BS in Environmental Affairs and Education from the University of New Hampshire, a Women’s Leadership certificate from the Yale School of Management and an Inclusive Philanthropy micro credential from Florida International University.  

Becky Chabot

Chief of Staff

Becky Chabot is Chief of Staff, working as a strategic partner to the Foundation President & Chief Executive Officer and overseeing the central coordination of the day-to-day operations and activities of the CEO’s Office. Becky has been with the UConn Foundation since October 2020, with previous advancement experience at Western New England University in Springfield, MA and Clark University in Worcester. Becky has her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in history from Clark University. Prior to pivoting her career to higher education advancement, she completed her coursework and comprehensive exams in pursuit of her Ph.D. at UConn. Becky is passionate about helping to make higher education accessible to all students, as a first-generation student herself.