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.

Chief People Officer and Senior Vice President for Alumni Relations

Mo Cotton Kelly is Chief People Officer and Senior Vice President for Alumni Relations, with responsibility for driving operational and capital campaign strategy, overseeing key administrative functions, guiding a culture of inclusivity, and managing alumni engagement for UConn’s 255,000-plus alumni worldwide. Cotton Kelly oversees the departments of alumni relations, marketing and communications, and annual giving. She joined the UConn Foundation in 2014 with a national reputation for strong leadership built over two decades in higher education advancement. Previously she was executive director of Bowling Green State University’s Alumni Association. Mo received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from BGSU. She is active in the Council for Alumni Association Executives and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

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.

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 finance, investment management, and fund administration for the Foundation’s endowment. Prior to joining the Foundation, Carney served as a managing director and investment manager 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 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 holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a Master of Business Administration from Boston College.

Associate Vice President of Principal Gifts and University Giving

Michael Van Sambeck is Associate Vice President of Principal Gifts and University Giving, leading central university giving teams, including principal gifts, regional fundraising, and planned giving development. In this role, he provides strategic direction for key relationships across the university, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and long-term goals. He also manages relationships with high-net-worth families, offering strategic guidance to help them achieve meaningful philanthropic impact. Before joining the UConn Foundation, Michael advised senators in the Connecticut General Assembly on aligning 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.

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 & 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.

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.