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Jen Kane

Director of Development
Fairfield University
Fairfield, Connecticut, United States

Jennifer Kane is a seasoned advancement professional, having spent most of her professional career working with, managing and motivating alumni boards. In her early career, Jen was an associate director of alumni relations at Fordham University, where she worked with four University boards, including the University’s first young alumni committee, which Jen created, and is still active today. In this role, she evaluated Fordham’s program effectiveness, introduced new initiatives more aligned with school mission, and identified leadership to drive future school connectivity and success. After five years at Fordham, Jen became director of alumni relations at Iona University, reorganizing the University’s regional chapter program, and solidifying and identifying new leadership to bolster the long-distance Iona alumni network. This work included chapter surveys, the creation of volunteer job descriptions, and the identification of active alumni of all ages to serve as ambassadors for the University. While at Iona, Jen also worked with the University’s Alumni Board, actively increasing their responsibilities and engagement.

At Fairfield since 2021, Jen has been director of the Fairfield Awards scholarship dinner, managing the Dinner’s alumni committee of over 40 members. She restructured the Committee, identified new leadership and invited young alumni to join. Committee meeting times were changed to accommodate alumni work life balance, and volunteer expectations were collaboratively created with Committee leadership. The end result in 2024, 100% of the Committee supported the Dinner, an increase of 42% from 2022. In her current role as director of development at the Dolan School of Business, Jen works with five councils representing each school major and one advisory board, which supports the Dean’s mission. Working with the new advisory board chair, Jen has surveyed alumni board members about their role and re-written board and council volunteer responsibilities, including the implementation of a new financial commitment. All survey results were shared with board members and this year, Jen is on track to achieve 100% Council and Board financial support. Jen is passionate about her work with Boards, believing that a meaningfully engaged alumnus/board member will be more likely to support the University and its students with greater capacity of time and personal and corporate financial commitment. She believes a collaborative relationship with the Fairfield Dolan Career Center is imperative for providing opportunities for students and alumni, alike. She looks forward to future collaboration with all Councils and has just implemented a new Council for Entrepreneurship at Fairfield Dolan.

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