Our Purpose
The SMCM Foundation helps ensure that the College has the resources to foster the excellence that the National Public Honors College requires and to prepare the next generation of engaged, global leaders.
Vision
Our vision is to attract significant resources to foster excellence at St. Mary’s College of Maryland through leadership in fundraising, prudent investing and stewardship.
Mission
Our mission is to initiate, cultivate and maintain strong lifelong relationships with alumni, friends and partners by creating a culture of giving, volunteer leadership and exemplary fiduciary responsibility toward the goal of a bright future as a preferred public liberal arts honors institution.
Values
◈ Integrity
◈ Collaboration
◈ Stewardship
◈ Leadership
Goals
1. Ensure the work of the Foundation is aligned with the strategic priorities of the College.
2. Increase the College’s capacity to fundraise.
3. Maintain the Foundation’s fiscal integrity and provide financial oversight to inspire confidence among donors and prospects.
Foundation
Foundation Board of Directors
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Daniel J. Schiffman ’91
President
Dan has years of experience in the financial services industry. In 1998, he joined Northwestern Mutual and built a successful business in Frederick, Maryland. As a wealth management advisor, he has expertise in financial planning and investment strategies which will play an important role as he joins the Foundation. In May 2019, Dan was honored as the recipient of the George Delaplaine Distinguished Citizen Award for his many contributions to the Frederick community including raising funds for the National Capital Area Council. He is presently a board member of the Frederick Memorial Hospital, the Community Foundation of Frederick County and the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs. Dan graduated from St. Mary’s College in 1991 with a major in political science.
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Thomasina “Tomi” Hiers ’97
Vice President
Tomi is the vice president for civic sites and community change at the Anne E. Casey Foundation. Before coming to the Casey Foundation, Tomi served as the executive director of Baltimore’s Promise, a multi-faceted program focused on Baltimore’s youth. Her work over the past 20 years in state and local government was always geared toward serving her community. As the chief of staff at the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, deputy chief of staff to Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, and the deputy secretary for programs at the Maryland Department of Human Services, Tomi continued making extraordinary changes in the community that she dearly loves. Tomi graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 1997 with majors in economics and sociology-anthropology.
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R. Scott Raspa '86
Treasurer
Scott is a retired technology business executive. He has 30 years of progressive experience in direct sales, marketing, channel sales, business development, and consulting in a highly competitive IT industry serving the US Federal Public Sector. He began his career working for the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD at the Computer Sciences Directorate as a mathematician and computer scientist. He went on to become a federal account marketing manager for International Business Machines (IBM) for nine years managing many U.S. federal government agencies' accounts positioning various computing technology solutions. He then went on to work for Silicon Graphics Incorporated (SGI), a leading high performance computing and graphics manufacturer, as a federal account manager where he consulted with various federal government agencies with supper computing capabilities such as high performance computing and high end networks to databases solutions. He then worked as a branch manager managing a team supporting U.S. federal government civilian agencies accounts. After eight years with SGI, he moved to senior account executive positions with leading software companies such as Primavera, a project portfolio management software company, and Rightnow Technologies, a customer relationship management software company. After six years with these companies, he joined Oracle Corporation as a senior executive managing one of the U.S. Air Force accounts positioning Customer Relation Management (CRM) software to the U.S. Air Force Personnel Center. Scott stayed with Oracle for five years before retiring in 2015. Scott graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 1986 with a major in natural science.
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Bonnie M. Green ’74
Secretary
Bonnie M. Green has served the Board of Trustees or the College’s Foundation Board for more than 20 years. Bonnie completed her most recent Foundation Board term as vice president in September 2018. As executive director of the Patuxent Partnership, she provides a critical link between the College, the Patuxent River Naval Air Station and its contracting community, in particular regarding the College’s efforts in the STEM fields. She is a 1974 alumna of the College, and since then has actively engaged students, including the creation of a summer internship program at the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation and American President Companies, Ltd. After St. Mary’s, Bonnie earned a M.B.A. from George Washington University. Reflecting decades of service to the institution, Bonnie is a recipient of the College’s prestigious Order of the Ark and Dove.
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George Anas
Member
George is a director of external affairs at Berkshire Hathaway Energy. Prior to moving to Maryland in 2018, George spent much of his career in business and economic development in Virginia, serving as assistant county administrator and director of economic development in Rockingham County, Virginia; director of business development at HESS Construction, Inc.; business development manager and global client director at Faithful Gould; and project manager at Virginia Economic Development Partnership & Peninsula Alliance. He served as a trustee at Virginia State University and board member of MTC Foundation at Massanutten Technical Center. George majored in business administration at Piedmont Virginia Community College and graduated with an A.A.S. in 1993. He majored in marketing at James Madison University and graduated with a B.B.A. in 1995. He received certification in economic development at the University of Oklahoma and attended Fork Union Military Academy, a college preparatory boarding military school. George is a member of the Board of Trustees at Fork Union Military Academy. Governor Wes Moore appointed George to the St. Mary’s County Alcohol Beverage Board, beginning January 1, 2024.
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Meredith E. Davis, Ph.D. ’92
Member
Throughout her career, Meredith has made it a point to support and lead initiatives that inspire others, move institutions forward, and improve academia and society. In her current role as a consultant in the Education Market at WittKieffer. Meredith relies on her 20+ years of leadership and teaching experiences in higher education to inform her executive search praxis as she builds relationships with clients, candidates and executive leaders across academia. Prior to joining the firm, Meredith was the associate vice president for student experience at Syracuse University where she provided direction and strategy for six key departments on campus. In addition to this role, Meredith served as the chair of the Enrollment and Student Experience Diversity Council, and the inaugural co-chair of the Student Activism Engagement Team (SAET). During her time at St. Mary’s College, Meredith served as president of the Black Student Union and the first African American member to serve on the Student Government Association executive cabinet as vice president. Meredith graduated from St. Mary’s College in 1992 with a major in sociology. She earned a M.A. in African American studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in 1997, and a Ph.D. in women’s and gender studies at Rutgers University in 2017.
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Brittany Toscano Gore ’08
Member
Brittany graduated from St. Mary’s College in 2008 with majors in English and political science and served as the College’s student trustee from 2007 to 2008. She is currently communications manager at Georgetown University’s Red House and Baker Trust for Transformational Learning. Red House works to shape a new learning paradigm that expands high-impact practices at Georgetown University, confronts systemic injustice, and improves wellbeing and healing, while controlling the rising costs of a transformative education. From Georgetown University, Brittany earned a M.A. in Italian Studies in 2017 and a M.A. in Learning, Design and Technology in 2019. She is presently a board member of The Marshall Project. She previously served on the board of the Hope for Henry Foundation.
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Susan Paul
Member
Susan is the director and proprietor of Creative Beginnings, an early childhood education center that has served the Southern Maryland community for over 30 years. With an entrepreneurial spirit and recognizing a need for high quality childcare and education, Susan founded Creative Beginnings in 1982 to attend to the area’s burgeoning population of young families. Susan has long been an active member of the College community along with her husband and Professor Emeritus of Biology Dr. Robert “Bob” Paul. In addition to running her business, Susan enjoys kayaking, swimming, biking and spending time with her grandchildren. Susan earned her undergraduate degree at William Woods University and her M.S. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT).
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Bluford “Blu” H. Putnam, Ph.D.
Member
Blu was a visiting professor in history and social science at St. Mary’s College from 1988 to 1989. He served on the College’s Foundation Board from 2001 to 2008 with an appointment as chair of the Joint Investment Committee from 2001 to 2006. With a career ranging from central banking to investment research to portfolio management, Blu regularly publishes research reports on the global economy and markets and presents this research to industry groups, focusing on clarifying complex problems and framing the issues in a compelling manner to encourage better decision making. In his current role as the chief economist and managing director of CME Group, the largest operator of futures and options exchanges around the world, he is responsible for leading economic analysis on global financial, commodity, and agricultural markets. Since 2015, Blu has been a member of the board of directors of 1Qbit and was named vice-chairman in 2021. Other board experience includes the board of directors at the Haitian Cultural Foundation from 2010 to 2011 and Maryland Bankshares from 2004 to 2001. Blu graduated from Tulane University with a Ph.D. in economics in 1976.
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Amir Reda ’11
Member
Amir is a portfolio manager - stewardship at Sands Capital, an independent, staff-owned firm founded in 1992 with offices in Washington, DC, London and Singapore. Prior to joining Sands Capital, Amir served as vice president and assistant vice president of U.S. Intermediaries and senior lead sales consultant of Financial Institutions at T. Rowe Price. While at the College, Amir was a member of the men’s soccer team, a student representative on the Alumni Council, a student ambassador in Admissions, a member of the Legislative Assembly Committee and a member of the Judicial Board. Amir graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 2011 with a major in political science. Amir served on the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Alumni Council as the student representative from 2010 to 2011 and then after graduation from 2017 to 2023. Amir also served as secretary on the board of directors of Stocks of the Future from 2019 to 2022.
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Edward “Ed” Sirianno ’82
Member
Ed is the executive director of the Buffalo Audubon Society after a career in higher education marketing and communications. Ed served as president of Creative Communication Associates (CCA) from 2001 to 2019, a higher education and communications consultancy specializing in print and digital media. Prior to coming to CCA, Ed served as a senior vice president for the Wolf Group Integrated Communications firm from 1998 to 2001. He managed clients such as Kodak, Ray Ban, Haagen-Dazs, HSBC, and others. Ed graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 1982 with a major in English and went on to receive a M.A. in Integrated Marketing and Communications from St. Bonaventure University in New York.
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Nikola Sutherland ’87
Member
Nikola is a founding partner, chief operating officer and a member of the investment committee at Apiary Capital LLP, London, UK. She leads the firm’s investor relations department and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the firm. Prior to founding Apiary Capital LLP, Nikola served as chief operating officer and partner at Bowmark Capital and served as partner of finance and operations at Duke Street Capital. In 2004, she was one of four partners who established Park Square Capital, a $1.15 billion independent European mezzanine fund. Nikola began her career in banking including roles at Rothschild & Co in Australia and JPMorgan in New York and London. Nikola graduated from St. Mary’s College in 1987 with a major in economics (Summa Cum Laude). She earned a M.B.A. in finance and management from Columbia Business School in 1992.
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Nicole Lewis West
Member
Nicole is president of West Advisory, an executive advisory and specialized consulting firm working with early stage, middle market, and larger firms to grow impactful global businesses. Nicole’s career is diverse and includes co-founding the Luminous Group, a global professional services company, and heading both Global Student Financial Services and Digital Products at Laureate International Universities. Additionally, she enjoyed a distinguished career in the finance industry including former managing director in the Office of the Chairman and CEO at Legg Mason, former chief of staff for Global Financial Services and COO of Capital One Federal Savings Bank, and former managing director of Freddie Mac. Nicole earned a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science at University of South Carolina and holds executive certificates in finance and leadership from the Wharton School and the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.
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SMCM Foundation Board of Directors Emeriti
Joint Investment Advisory Committee
To effectively manage its investment responsibilities, the Foundation Board of Directors created the Joint Investment Advisory Committee (JIAC) as an advisory committee to the Foundation Board. The JIAC coordinates the activities of the investment manager(s) and other independent firms or people engaged to provide investment services; coordinates investment activity with the College Board; facilitates communication between the Foundation Board and College Board regarding anticipated needs and available funding; and reports and makes recommendations to the Foundation Board as necessary. The JIAC includes five voting members: the President of the College, two members of the College Board of Trustees, and two members of the Foundation Board of Directors.
JIAC Members
Nicole West, Foundation director and chair
Blu Putnam, Foundation director
President Tuajuanda Jordan
Nick Abrams, Board of Trustees
Sven Holmes, Board of Trustees
Financial Reports
The SMCM Foundation is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt charitable organization that supports the College through sound fiscal management of a growing endowment portfolio. It is governed by a Board of Directors that gives its expertise and time in service to the College without compensation.
SMCM Alumni in London!
Foundation Director Nikola Sutherland ’87 (2nd from right) connected and gathered with fellow alums in London; from left to right are James Miller ’20, Michelle Cuttler ’92, Hannah Myers ’15 and Makenna Bradford ’20.
Thank you Chris, Mike and Paul –
We Honor Your Service on the Foundation Board
September 28, 2023
Christopher D. Holt ’86
Chris has championed St. Mary’s College as a proud alumnus and through his years of service. He formerly served on the Alumni Council and co-chaired the Baltimore Business Initiative in 2013. Chris joined the Foundation Board of Directors in November 2016, serving as vice president (2018-2020) and most recently as treasurer (2020-present). Chris served as a member of the Joint Investment Advisory Committee from 2017 to 2019. Chris supported the previous campaign, the $2.5 Million Capital Campaign Challenge, at the $2,500-$9,999 level. Chris, together with his wife Teresa Borgerding Holt ’83, has been a consistent annual donor with gifts designated for the St. Mary’s Fund, business administration and varsity sailing team.
Michael P. O’Brien ’68
Mike, Class of 1968, is a longtime supporter of the College and a former member of the Board of Trustees (2005-2017). Mike joined the Foundation Board of Directors in 2017 and served on the Joint Investment Advisory Committee from 2017 to 2021. Mike supported the $2.5 Million Capital Campaign Challenge – the campaign for the stadium, performing arts center and leaning commons – at the $2,500-$9,999 level. In 2007, Mike created the Michael P. O’Brien Scholarship to benefit students with financial need. In February of 2010, his contributions were recognized with the naming of the Michael P. O’Brien Athletics and Recreation Center. He is recognized for his lifetime giving as a member of the Trustees Circle ($1,000,000+).
Paul R. Schultheis ’98
Paul has dedicated himself to St. Mary’s College since his graduation in 1998. As a proud alumnus, he served on the young alumni committee of the Alumni Council, as a Baltimore Alumni Chapter president and a member of the Alumni Council. While serving on the Alumni Council, Paul held the position of president (2008-2012) and as such held a concurrent appointment to the Board of Trustees. Paul joined the Foundation Board of Directors in 2016 and was elected vice president in 2020. Paul, together with his wife Jennifer Aschbrenner Schultheis ’98, has been an ardent Giving Tuesday supporter and dedicated St. Mary’s Fund donor as well as supporting the LEAD Fund and new business administration program.