17
A LUMNI S U C C E S S
ALUMNI GROUP HAS
NEW DIRECTOR
Alphonce J. Brown Jr. stepped
into the role of director of
Development and Alumni
Relations in January 2020.
He is a senior executive with 35 years of
experience in higher education, nonprofits,
development strategic planning, and capital
campaign feasibility studies.
Brown has a Bachelor of Arts in
Government and Psychology from The
University of Texas at Austin. He has
achieved many development successes
during his career, including conducting research and targeting major
donors for UCLA, leading to media mogul David Geffen donating
$200 million.
Brown has been recognized as one of 110 Advanced Certified
Fundraising Executives (ACFRE) and is one of 94 certified Master
Trainers within AFP. He was named Top 14 Most Influential
Fundraisers in USA in 2009 by NonProfit Times. Brown was recently
named an AFP 2021 Distinguished Fellow, a national recognition
for individuals who have made significant leadership contributions
to philanthropy and the fundraising profession.
Meet the Office of Development and Alumni Relations Team
Tomeka Jackson, Administrative Support
Jackson provides
administrative
support for the
entire department
and works closely
in helping to
prepare Stetson’s
many events and
compiling Class
Notes.
Patricia Toups, Associate Director of Development
Toups brings a
broad breadth and
knowledge to the
development team
that includes historical
timelines, practices
and procedures, and
fiscal management.
Janet Caramello, Major Gifts Officer
Caramello joined
Stetson in 2021
and will connect
donors and potential
major donors with
opportunities to
advance the College of
Law through financial
contributions and
volunteer leadership.
Mike Casey, Associate Director of Alumni Relations
Casey helps to
establish and grow
local and nationwide
alumni chapters. He
is also responsible
for planning many
of Stetson’s signature
events, including
the Hall of Fame
Banquet.
Patricia Stone, Database Administration Specialist
Stone provides
support through
gift accounting and
processes, database
management and
reporting tools, and
donor stewardship,
as well as provides
administrative support
to staff.
Karen Ryals, Development Officer
Ryals joined Stetson
in 2020 and
oversees new annual
giving programs
and manages
existing campaigns,
including the Law
Firm Challenge and
Student Emergency
Fund.
Annual Campaigns
We have many opportunities for alumni to help shape
who we are and what we’ll become, including the Law Firm
Challenge and the We Are Stetson Giving Challenge. Both
play a critical role in our continuing efforts for excellence and
national prominence in providing student financial aid, faculty
research, clinical education, and academic programs.
The We Are Stetson Giving Challenge is a three-day campaign
in April in which alumni, faculty, students and friends have
an opportunity to show their support for the College of Law.
This year, alumnus Jeffery A. Smith, J.D. ’73, agreed to donate
$100,000 if 300 alumni gave to the campaign, and it was a
resounding success.
The Law Firm Challenge runs November-January and is a
friendly competition where law firms with multiple Stetson
Law graduates vie for the highest percentage of alumni giving.
You can also support the new Dick and Joan Jacobs Public
Interest Environmental Law Clinic fund if environmental
policy is important to you. Of course, you don’t need to wait
for a campaign to provide support. Graduates can give back
to any Stetson Law fund at any time and in any amount. If
you have questions, contact the Office of Development and
Alumni Relations at alumni@law.stetson.edu or 727-562-7818.
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