Kimberley Pittman-Schulz will be stepping away from her role as Executive Director of Philanthropy in late August. For both personal and professional reasons, she’s concluding her time with Humboldt State University to work with a cause close to her heart. She’ll be heading up the planned giving program for Compassion & Choices, the nation’s oldest and largest social change organization focused on encouraging values-based care and expanding choices at the end of life. Fortunately, we'll be able to keep her in our community, as she will be working from a home-based office, and she's already indicated plans to continue as a volunteer on the OLLI Fund-raising & Finance Committee and with KHSU.

In the meantime, Deborah (Deb) Rice has been chosen as the Interim Executive Director of Philanthropy. Deb joined us in April as the Philanthropy Advisor for CAHSS & the Library. She has extensive experience in philanthropy. She has spent more than 19 years working with community foundations, universities, and nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining HSU, Deb served the statewide community foundation, Hawai’i Community Foundation (HCF), as the Senior Philanthropic Services officer for Maui County.  Prior to her Maui term, Deb led the Kaua’i office for HCF. She has also worked for the Humboldt Area Foundation, the University of California, Davis, and as the Director of Planned Giving at the CSU, Sacramento. At Humboldt Area Foundation, she helped launch the North Coast Leave a Legacy program.

Deb will be working alongside Travis Williams, Director of Annual Giving & Philanthropic Services, to keep our important mission going. Travis has 10 years of experience with the Office of Philanthropy and HSU's high-energy Philanthropy team. Deb’s strong fundraising experience will make her an excellent advocate for advancing HSU’s educational mission. Please join us in welcoming her as Interim Executive Director of Philanthropy here at HSU.