Mentorship Matters

Ep 41: Culture eats strategy for breakfast, feat. Edgar Gonzalez, Seattle University

Edgar Gonzalez is an experienced and proven leader, team-builder, and collaborator with almost 20 years of experience in higher education advancement and program development. He currently serves as Vice President of University Advancement at Seattle University. Prior to joining Seattle University, Edgar held leadership roles at Oregon Health and Science University, the University of Washington, and the Alliance for Education. A native of Argentina, Edgar and his family emigrated to the US when he was 9 years old in pursuit of the American dream. After earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington, he has dedicated his entire career to working in higher education and ensuring that everyone has access. Edgar is passionate about the positive impact philanthropy can have on the institutions, communities, and individuals he is fortunate to serve. His career has always been focused on building institutional capacity through cultivating deep relationships, transformative philanthropy, leadership development and impactful storytelling.

Ep. 39, Creating an environment where all people thrive, feat. Lishelle Blakemore, UC Berkeley

Lishelle Blakemore ‘89 (she/her/hers) is the Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) of Development in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for the University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR) department at the University of California, Berkeley.Lishelle has served as the AVC of Development since 2017. Prior to this role, Lishelle established and led the Annual Programs department in UDAR. Before joining UDAR in 1994, Lishelle served as Assistant Vice President for The Pacific Group, where she provided consulting and fundraising services for universities throughout the country.On campus, Lishelle serves on the University Athletics Board, the Executive Advisory Committee for UC Berkeley Discovery, and the BSFO Program Committee. Outside of Cal, Lishelle has been an active volunteer with CASE District VII and currently serves on the US/Canada Council, the Summer Institute for Educational Fundraising and Black Leaders in Philanthropy.

Ep. 38, Women & Philanthropy, feat. Sallie-Grace Tate, UC Davis

Ep. 37, Advancement at HBCUs, feat. Brent Swinton, Bowie State University

Brent Swinton brings more than 20 years of fundraising experience in higher education and the non-profit sector to his position as Vice President of Advancement at Bowie State College. Swinton has a variety of first-hand experience in major gift fundraising, development operations and strategic communications, gathered from a career that has been dedicated to helping mission-based organizations achieve their strategic goals.Prior to joining Bowie State, Swinton led fundraising at the national headquarters of Advancement Project and the Children’s Defense Fund. Previously, he was assistant vice president for institutional advancement at Notre Dame of Maryland University and senior director of advancement services at Howard University. Swinton is credited with training hundreds of grassroots organizations to sustain themselves financially through the Compassion Capital Fund, the cornerstone grant program of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. At Notre Dame of Maryland, Swinton provided leadership and oversight of all campaign and alumni relations activities. Earlier, he worked for a fundraising software provider, guiding colleges across the nation on campaign planning and implementing donor databases.

Ep. 40, "Do we have to spend money to make money?" with Jim Langley

Ep. 36, Growing affinity-based scholarships, feat. LaDaniel Gatling, Guilford College

Ep. 35, Building a more inclusive talent pipeline for advancement, feat. David Lieb, Penn State

Ep. 34: Tips for good networking, feat. John Toolan

Ep. 33, Purpose-driven philanthropy, feat. Bathsheba Philpott, CFRE

Bathsheba Philpott, CFRE, serves as the Vice President of Philanthropy for National Medical Fellowships, Inc. (NMF). In this role, Philpott will lead all fundraising and partnership efforts for the organization whose mission confronts, addresses and solves for pervasive inequity in health care.With more than 20 years of experience in development and philanthropy, Philpott has made an impact with many nonprofit organizations, including the Smithsonian Institution and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, as well as health care-focused and serving institutions such as the Children’s National Hospital and The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Philpott joins NMF from the American Council on Education, where she most recently served as Vice President of Advancement.

Ep. 31: Intentionally building a talent onramp, feat. Dennis Bonilla, Dean of Wiley Edge Global Academy