Team | Office of Gift Planning | University of Notre Dame

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Team

Our team of gift planning professionals would be honored to work with you to help create a plan that fulfills your personal desires and objectives. Notre Dame offers many creative ways to structure a gift to Our Lady's University through bequests, retirement plans, gift annuities, charitable trusts, and other charitable gift planning vehicles allowing you to advance the mission of Notre Dame and care for your loved ones.

Our Team Members

Patrick Brennan

Gift Planning Program Director

Patrick Brennan

Gift Planning Program Director
1251 N. Eddy St., Ste 300
South Bend, IN 46617
pbrenna3@nd.edu+1 574-631-8605

As Director of Gift Planning for the West region of the United States, Patrick Brennan works with Notre Dame alumni, parents, and friends with an interest in deferred and structured contributions to Notre Dame, including estate and trust gifts, gifts of real estate, and gifts of privately held business interests. Patrick graduated from the Notre Dame Law School in 1998 and immediately joined the Office of Gift Planning.
Jessica Brice

Gift Planning Program Director

Jessica Brice

Gift Planning Program Director
1251 N. Eddy St., Ste 300
South Bend, IN 46617
jbrice@nd.edu+1 574-631-0448

As a Director of Gift Planning for the East and New York Metro regions of the United States, Jessica works with Notre Dame alumni, parents, and friends interested in deferred and structured contributions to Notre Dame, including estate and trust gifts, gifts of real estate, and gifts of privately held business interests. Prior to joining the Gift Planning team in 2019, Jessica worked as a CPA in public accounting, most recently as a Senior Tax Manager with LBMC, PC in Knoxville, Tennessee. Jessica received her Bachelor of Science in Business degree from Indiana University in 2006, and earned her CPA certification shortly thereafter.
Maureen Daday

Regional Associate

Maureen Daday

Regional Associate
1251 N. Eddy St., Ste 300
South Bend, IN 46617
mdaday3@nd.edu+1 574-631-1951

As a Regional Associate, Maureen manages the Life Insurance Program and partners with Gift Planning Officers in support of the deferred and structured contributions to Notre Dame. Prior to joining the Gift Planning team in 2019, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Saint Mary’s College in 2017. During 2018, Maureen lived and worked in County Wexford, Ireland through Notre Dame’s House of Brigid program. Shortly after returning from Ireland, she earned her Masters of Science in Management from Notre Dame in 2019.
Christopher De Trempe

Gift Planning Program Director

Christopher De Trempe

Gift Planning Program Director
1251 N. Eddy St., Ste 300
South Bend, IN 46617
cdetremp@nd.edu+1 574-631-7872

As a Director of Gift Planning for the East and Southeast regions of the United States, Chris DeTrempe works with Notre Dame alumni, parents, and friends with an interest in deferred and structured contributions to Notre Dame, including estate and trust gifts, gifts of real estate, and gifts of privately held business interests. Chris joined the Office of Gift Planning in January 2009 after having served as the Associate Director of Notre Dame's Executive MBA program for both Chicago and South Bend. Prior to joining Notre Dame in 2006, Chris was Director of Operations for McDonald's Corporation in Dallas, Texas, where he had also served as a Director of Finance. Chris received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Notre Dame in 1986 and began his career with a national public accounting firm, Coopers & Lybrand. Following graduation, he earned his CPA, and later earned a master's degree in business administration from Texas Christian University in 2003. Chris and his wife, Corinne, a graduate of Saint Mary's College, have five children.
Beth Dietz

Associate Program Director

Beth Dietz

Associate Program Director
1251 N. Eddy St., Ste 300
South Bend, IN 46617
ewhite@nd.edu+1 574-631-1117

As Associate Program Director, Beth collaborates with the Senior Director of Gift Planning Strategic Operations to document deferred and structured gifts to Notre Dame, including estate and trust gifts. She also works with fiduciaries and families of deceased benefactors on trust and estate administration matters to facilitate gifts to the University consistent with benefactors' philanthropic goals. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. After law school, Beth clerked for a federal district court judge in Memphis and worked as a banking associate in the Chicago office of Latham & Watkins, where she focused on representing clients in syndicated secured commercial loan transactions. Before joining the Gift Planning team in 2022, Beth was an adjunct professor of legal writing in the Notre Dame Law School. Beth and her husband, Joe (also a Notre Dame graduate), have two children.
Carolyn Hardman

Assistant Program Director

Carolyn Hardman

Assistant Program Director
1251 N. Eddy St., Ste 300
South Bend, IN 46617
chardma1@nd.edu+1 574-631-9477

As a Assistant Program Director, Gift Planning Strategic Operations, Carolyn provides the administrative and reporting functions for the Donor Advised Fund and realized estate gift programs as well as process improvement support to gift planning. She has been with Notre Dame Development for more than ten years and joined the Gift Planning team in 2021. Carolyn earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from DePauw University and her Master’s of Public Affairs from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Bloomington. Carolyn and her husband have lived in the South Bend area for over twenty years and have two adult sons.
Marty Harshman

Associate Vice President Development

Marty Harshman

Associate Vice President Development
1251 N. Eddy St., Ste 300
South Bend, IN 46617
mharshm1@nd.edu

Marty Harshman serves as the Associate Vice President for Development and Principal Gifts. In this role, Marty serves as a key partner to the University’s executive officers, President’s Leadership Council, and numerous other campus divisions including the Notre Dame Investment Office and Office of the Controller. Additionally, he leads Notre Dame’s Office of Gift Planning.

Marty has spent his entire career in Catholic education. Prior to returning to Development, he served with distinction as the Senior Advisor to the Executive Vice President where he was responsible for providing support to the Executive Vice President on a variety of strategic projects and initiatives and managed the day-to-day operations of the office.

Before joining the Office of the Executive Vice President, he served as a member of the University’s Development Team first as a Director of Regional Development, and then as Senior Director of Regional Development where he led a team of fundraisers focused on the University’s top priorities.

Prior to joining Notre Dame in 2013, Marty spent sixteen years as a K-12 educator. After enjoying seven years as a classroom teacher, he earned his administrators license and served as a school leader for nine years. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in 1997, and a master’s degree in 1999 with Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program.

Marty and his wife Katie have three boys.
Jennifer Koebel

Associate Director

Jennifer Koebel

Associate Director
1251 N. Eddy St., Ste 300
South Bend, IN 46617
jmoore13@nd.edu+1 574-631-6368

As Associate Director, Jen manages a team in client-partnerships with Gift Planning Officers in support of deferred and structured contributions to Notre Dame. Jen joined the Office of Gift Planning in October 2012 and earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Capella University. Jen and her husband, Kevin, have four children.
Carolyn Lax

Development Coordinator

Carolyn Lax

Development Coordinator
1251 N. Eddy St., Ste 300
South Bend, IN 46617
clax@nd.edu+1 574-631-4175

Development Coordinator for the Office of Gift Planning focusing on client-partnership with Patrick Brennan in support of the University’s fundraising priorities and special projects. Carolyn received her Associate Degree in Business Administration from Ivy Tech Community College and attended Andrew’s University, Berrien Springs, MI. Carolyn has been with the Development Department for 20 years.
Jennifer Milliron

Gift Planning Program Director

Jennifer Milliron

Gift Planning Program Director
1251 N. Eddy St., Ste 300
South Bend, IN 46617
jmilliro@nd.edu

As a Director of Gift Planning, Jenny works closely with Notre Dame alumni, parents, and friends interested in deferred and structured contributions to Notre Dame, including estate and trust gifts, gifts of real estate, and gifts of privately held business interests. Jenny graduated from Notre Dame in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and earned her Juris Doctor from the Willamette University College of Law in 2010. Jenny is a member of the Oregon State Bar, and has extensive experience in the estate planning industry. Prior to joining the gift planning team, Jenny also served as the president of the board of directors of a non-profit dedicated to helping children better their communities by connecting them with service opportunities. Jenny and her husband, Chris, also a 2005 graduate of Notre Dame, have three children.
Ashley Moeller

Regional Associate, Regional Admin.

Ashley Moeller

Regional Associate, Regional Admin.
3271 Eddy Street Commons
South Bend, IN 46617
amoelle2@nd.edu+1 574-631-9010

As a Regional Associate, Ashley partners with Gift Planning Officers in support of the deferred and structured contributions to Notre Dame. Ashley graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications. Ashley is the proud mom of her dog, Willa.
Andrew Owens

Gift Planning Program Director

Andrew Owens

Gift Planning Program Director
1251 N. Eddy St., Ste 300
South Bend, IN 46617
aowens2@nd.edu

As a Director of Gift Planning, Andrew works closely with Notre Dame alumni, parents, and friends interested in deferred and structured contributions to Notre Dame, including estate and trust gifts, gifts of real estate, and gifts of privately held business interests. He previously worked on the Annual Giving team and, prior to joining Notre Dame, practiced commercial real estate law in Michigan and covered Notre Dame athletics as a journalist. Andrew graduated from Notre Dame in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, and earned his Juris Doctor from Notre Dame Law School in 2019.
TJ Pillari

Senior Director

TJ Pillari

Senior Director
1251 N. Eddy St., Ste 300
South Bend, IN 46617
tpillari@nd.edu+1 574-631-9777

As a Director of Gift Planning, TJ works with Notre Dame alumni, parents and friends interested in deferred and structured contributions to Notre Dame, including estate and trust gifts, gifts of real estate, and gifts of privately held business interests. TJ is a "Double Domer", having earned his Bachelor of Arts from Notre Dame in the Program of Liberal Studies in 2003 and his Juris Doctorate from Notre Dame Law School in 2008. Following law school and prior to his return to Notre Dame in 2017, TJ worked as an attorney in private practice in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. Most recently, TJ served as a shareholder, member of the Board of Directors, and Chairperson of the Probate and Estate Planning Practice Group at Wickens Herzer Panza in Avon, Ohio, where TJ provided estate, tax, and business succession planning counsel to high net-worth individuals and families. TJ and his wife, Quinn, also a graduate of Notre Dame, have four children.
RaeLee Rea

Sr. Director of Gift Planning Strategic Operations

RaeLee Rea

Sr. Director of Gift Planning Strategic Operations
1251 N. Eddy St., Ste 300
South Bend, IN 46617
rrea@nd.edu+1 574-631-4538

As Senior Director of Gift Planning Strategic Operations, RaeLee is responsible for administration of the Donor Advised Fund Program at Notre Dame. RaeLee works with Donor Advised Fund benefactors and advisors to accomplish their philanthropic goals, and she manages the Donor Advised Fund grant process to benefit Notre Dame as well as other qualified charitable organizations. Prior to Notre Dame, RaeLee practiced law with Faegre Baker Daniels LLP for 13 years where she was a member of the Business Planning and Trusts & Estates practice groups. While in private practice, RaeLee assisted clients with business succession planning, estate planning, corporate transactions, and trust and estate administration. RaeLee was Treasurer of the Michiana Estate Planning Council for four years and served on the Board of Directors for the Michiana YMCA for five years. RaeLee received her bachelor's degree in political science from UCLA and her law degree from Valparaiso University. RaeLee and her husband, Jeff, have one daughter.
Laura Ruiz

Gift Planning Program Director

Laura Ruiz

Gift Planning Program Director
1251 N. Eddy St., Ste 300
South Bend, IN 46617
lruiz@nd.edu

As a Director of Gift Planning, Laura works closely with Notre Dame alumni, parents, and friends interested in deferred and structured contributions to Notre Dame, including estate and trust gifts, gifts of real estate, and gifts of privately held business interests. Prior to joining Notre Dame, Laura spent time at Northwestern University in their Alumni Relations and Development department working on all gift agreement documentation and drafting, and management of the University’s new endowed funds. Most recently, she worked at KPMG, LLP assisting tax-exempt entities, predominantly colleges, universities, and hospital systems, on all aspects of their accounting and tax matters. Laura graduated from Saint Mary’s College in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics, and earned her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2015. Laura and her husband, Bob, a graduate of Notre Dame, enjoy traveling and hanging with their Pomeranian puppy, Morse.
Thomas Speranza

Development Associate

Thomas Speranza

Development Associate
3268 Eddy Street Commons
South Bend, IN 46617
tsperan3@nd.edu+1 574-631-6334

As Development Associate for the Gift Planning Strategic Operations team, Thomas is responsible for the administration of the Charitable Remainder Trust and life insurance programs. He also assists with realized estate gifts by updating donor information and providing updates regarding estate status. Thomas graduated from Purdue University Northwest, having received a degree in accounting. He is an active member in the South Bend Chamber Singers. Thomas and his partner, Haley, have a beautiful cat named Sunshine.
Laura Walker

Badin Guild Assoc Director

Laura Walker

Badin Guild Assoc Director
1158 Grace Hall
Notre Dame, IN 46556
lsnell@nd.edu+1 574-631-0038

As Associate Director for the Badin Guild, Laura oversees stewardship and provides engagement experiences for planned gift benefactors to the University. Prior to joining Notre Dame in 2014, Laura worked as the Director of Marketing for Saint Joseph Regional Medical System and as the Global Marketing Manager for Underwriters Laboratories Food and Water Business. Laura earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration from Indiana University. Laura and her husband, Mike, have five children.
Anne Wieber

Sr Gift Planning Prog Coord

Anne Wieber

Sr Gift Planning Prog Coord
1251 N. Eddy St., Ste 300
South Bend, IN 46617
awieber1@nd.edu+1 574-631-0555
Sarah Wodrich

Gift Planning Program Director

Sarah Wodrich

Gift Planning Program Director
1251 N. Eddy St., Ste 300
South Bend, IN 46617
swodrich@nd.edu+1 574-631-9849

As a Director of Gift Planning, Sarah works with Notre Dame alumni, parents and friends interested in deferred and structured contributions to Notre Dame, including estate and trust gifts, gifts of real estate, and gifts of privately held business interests. Prior to joining the Gift Planning team in 2021, Sarah practiced law in Northern Indiana. While in private practice, Sarah assisted clients with trust and estate administration, estate planning, and various litigation matters. Sarah received a bachelor's degree in psychology and criminal justice from Indiana University and a law degree from the University of Kentucky. Sarah and her husband, Eric, have one son.