The Yale Alumni Fund has announced the 2024 recipients of its Chair’s Award, a group of six exceptional volunteer leaders. Rich Roberts ’86, ’89 JD, chair of the Yale Alumni Fund Board of Directors, announced the winners, selected from a wide pool of volunteers nominated by Alumni Fund staff across all of Yale’s schools.
“All of our volunteers are extremely important to us, but we do like to take the opportunity to recognize each year some volunteers who have made special contributions,” Roberts said. “I’m delighted to present this year’s Alumni Fund Chair’s Awards. The awards recognize volunteers who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, initiative, innovation, and dedication through their work for the Alumni Fund. Each year, recipients are nominated by Alumni Fund staff across all Yale schools and are selected by the current chair of the Board of Directors. This is the Alumni Fund’s and my opportunity to show our appreciation for extraordinary volunteer leadership.”
Six individuals were presented with these awards on February 10 during the Yale Alumni Fund Board of Directors meeting. View the celebration video and read more about the recipients below.
Award Recipients
Brian D. Hammerstein ’85
Since joining the Yale Alumni Fund as a class agent in 2010, Brian has been a champion of alumni participation and engaging classmates around key fundraising initiatives. His efforts emphasize that gifts of any amount make a significant difference in supporting Yale students.
Brian previously served on the Yale Alumni Fund Board of Directors, where he was a member of the Nominating Committee, and is now actively involved in his class’s 40th Reunion Gift Committee. His commitment to Yale extends to his long-standing role as a participant and photographer at the Yale Alumni Association Assembly and Alumni Fund Convocation. In addition to his work with the Alumni Fund, Brian has been a dedicated supporter of Yale’s Day of Service, coordinating events with InTandem, a nonprofit cofounded by Mark Carhart ’88 that organizes tandem bicycle rides for blind and visually impaired cyclists in New York.
Brian’s technical expertise has been a valuable asset to the Alumni Fund, particularly during the search for a new volunteer portal. As a member of the Technology Workgroup, he played an integral role in the testing and launch of this transformative tool.
Brian’s leadership has also been instrumental in creating new opportunities for alumni connections. In the lead-up to his class’s thirty-fifth reunion, he spearheaded the launch of Pre-Reunions, a series of mini-reunion events held in cities including Boston, Beverly Hills, and New York City. These events have since become a regular part of class engagement, drawing over 300 classmates and reconnecting many with Yale for the first time since graduation. Thanks to Brian’s efforts, the Class of 1985 received a YAA Excellence Award at this year’s YAA Assembly and Alumni Fund Convocation.
Edward D. Sevilla ’82
Ed exemplifies dedication to volunteerism through his extensive involvement with Yale. Currently serving as a member of the Yale Alumni Fund Board of Directors and recently appointed to the Executive Committee, Ed has had a lasting impact on the Alumni Fund.
Since becoming a class agent in early 2021, Ed has stood out as a dynamic and passionate fundraising volunteer. He recorded a compelling video about his reasons for supporting the Alumni Fund, which has become a model example shared with other volunteers. His professional fundraising expertise shines through in his outreach to classmates, where he skillfully weaves in campus news and events to engage both near and distant alumni.
Recognizing his experience in direct marketing and his current role as a fundraising consultant, Yale invited Ed to lead a workshop on writing effective fundraising appeals. At this event, he shared valuable lessons on crafting impactful solicitations, including the importance of a well-structured “reading curve” and the strategic use of a postscript. Ed’s insights have been influential in shaping future volunteer training sessions.
Ed’s contributions to Yale extend beyond his fundraising efforts. He is a past member of the Yale Alumni Association’s Board of Governors and the Alumni Fellow Nominating Committee, the Yale Alumni Task Force on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and the Yale Global Alumni Leadership Exchange. He has also been active in the Alumni Schools Committee and served on his 25th, 35th, and 40th reunion gift committees.
Marianna Cuomo Maier ’19
Since her time as a senior class gift chair for the Class of 2019, Marianna has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the Yale Alumni Fund. In this role, she played a key part in fostering a culture of giving by organizing class-wide events and crafting meaningful appeals that inspired her classmates to make their first gifts to Yale. Her dedication continued post-graduation as she took on the role of co-chair of agents, and she now serves on the Yale Alumni Fund Board of Directors.
Marianna’s passion extends beyond fundraising; she is also deeply committed to student well-being. As a national board-certified health and wellness coach, she regularly hosts wellness and meditation sessions for current Yale students, providing crucial mindfulness and mental health support during stressful periods. These efforts reflect her personal mission of helping individuals thrive through gratitude and sustainable well-being.
Most recently, Marianna co-chaired her class’s 5th Reunion Gift Committee. Her proactive outreach has significantly enhanced engagement and strengthened the sense of community within her class.
Dicky C. Yan ’95 PhD
Dicky was part of the inaugural class of volunteer fundraisers when the Graduate School expanded its Alumni Fund program in 2018. His commitment to his role is evident in his diligent work, often involving his family—his wife and son—who assist with assembling solicitation letters and proofreading emails that engage fellow alumni.
A regular participant in Graduate School Alumni Fund volunteer calls and presidential webinars, Dicky actively connects with staff, sending positive updates on his progress. Dicky goes above and beyond in his volunteer efforts, not only in soliciting donations but also in stewarding donors by sending thoughtful token gifts to express his gratitude. He makes full use of the fund’s available tools to maximize his outreach and impact.
His enthusiasm, commitment, and innovative approach have been a key factor in the success of the Graduate School Alumni Fund. Dicky remains deeply grateful for his Yale education and continues to be motivated by the kindness and community spirit he has experienced within the Yale network.
Judith Becker Bryant ’77
Judy is a passionate advocate for the Alumni Fund, having dedicated twenty-one years to the fund as a class agent and Class Council member. Judy’s volunteer service includes chairing the class of 1977’s 30th, 35th, 40th and 45th reunion gift committees, serving as corresponding secretary for six years, and class secretary for eleven years.
She demonstrates remarkable commitment in her outreach efforts and creativity in engaging her peers. Recently, she took the initiative to craft a thoughtful email directed at class agents from the graduating classes of 1975 to 1979, encouraging them to send personalized notes of appreciation to their prospective donors. Stewardship of Alumni Fund donors is fundamental to Judy’s work. She sends handwritten notes of gratitude to classmates and with her fundraising peers shares innovative ideas for expressing appreciation to donors.
Judy emphasizes the importance of building relationships by consistently connecting with other volunteers and inspiring them to enhance their own engagement and solicitation efforts. One of her notable accomplishments includes leading a successful campaign to recruit new class agents, which featured a personalized appeal sent to all members of the Class of 1977.
Mallet Njonkem ’18
Mallet’s involvement with the Yale Alumni Fund has created connections for members of the Yale community across generations. His fundraising career at Yale began as a residential college chair for the senior class gift campaign. His natural affinity for building community, evident in his roles as a First-Year Counselor and Communication and Consent Educator, made him an ideal candidate for continued service to Yale including as chair of his 5th Reunion Gift Committee and Alumni Fund stewardship volunteer.
Mallet has served on the Alumni Fund Board of Directors, including two years on the Executive Committee. His analytical strengths and genuine care for others have enhanced his contributions across multiple volunteer roles, from interviewing prospective students through the Alumni Schools Committee to actively mentoring peers through the Cross Campus initiative. He also recently joined the Young Alumni Council of the Yale Alumni College. Mallet’s service to Yale also extends to being a campaign liaison for the For Humanity Campaign Committee.