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Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health’s Development and Alumni Relations Team is dedicated to fostering a vibrant, engaged community of alumni, donors, and friends. We support the School’s mission by strengthening connections, advancing philanthropy, and creating opportunities for alumni to stay involved.
Through impactful events, meaningful mentorship, and strategic fundraising initiatives, we help ensure that Columbia Mailman continues to lead in public health education, research, and innovation. Whether you're looking to reconnect, give back, or explore new ways to engage, our team is here to guide and support you.
Join us in shaping the future of public health!
Development and Alumni Relations Team
Laura Sobel, MBA
- Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations
- ls3875@cumc.columbia.edu ls3875@cumc.columbia.edu
Laura Sobel, associate dean for development and alumni relations, oversees the Office of Development and Alumni Relations as well as management of the Board of Advisors. Laura has held several executive leadership roles within educational, international development, community foundations, and health care nonprofit organizations. Prior to arriving at Columbia, she was vice president for principal and major gifts at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Harvard teaching hospital, for 17 years, growing fundraising from $8 million to $85 million annually. She has also held leadership positions at the Boston Foundation, Greater Boston’s community foundation; Facing History and Ourselves, an international teacher training organization; and CARE, an international relief organization. Laura spent her childhood in New York City. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in economics and received her MBA from Northeastern University.
Caitlin Bristow, JD
- Assistant Dean for External and Board Relations
- cb3732@cumc.columbia.edu cb3732@cumc.columbia.edu
Caitlin Bristow, assistant dean for external and board relations, comes to Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health from Campbell & Company, a national fundraising consulting firm that works with clients to plan for and execute fundraising campaigns, build major gifts programs, and craft compelling fundraising communications. Caitlin began at Campbell & Company in 2014 as an associate consultant and quickly became a leader at the firm. At the end of her eight-year tenure, Caitlin was a vice president in the fundraising practice. As a consultant, Caitlin partnered with education clients across the country to lead campaigns ranging from $10 million to $750 million. She has experience working with nonprofit leaders to secure 7- and 8-figure gifts and enjoys working closely with volunteer leaders to achieve fundraising goals. Caitlin served as Columbia Mailman’s campaign consultant for ten months before joining the team full-time as the assistant dean for development.
Allyson Velez, MPP
- Assistant Dean for Operations and Institutional Giving
- amr151@cumc.columbia.edu amr151@cumc.columbia.edu
Allyson Velez, assistant dean for operations and institutional giving, serves as the critical connector between the team’s internal and external fundraising functions and key advisor on corporate and foundation donors and prospects. Before joining Columbia Mailman in 2022, Ms. Velez was with the Guttmacher Institute in various roles for more than 15 years, most recently as director of institutional giving, overseeing a period of major growth in the organization’s funding from foundations, foreign governments, and multilateral agencies. Ms. Velez has also held positions at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Office of Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, EMILY’s List, and the Institute for Democracy Studies. She earned a BA in public policy studies from Duke University and a master of public policy from Georgetown University. A native New Yorker, Ms. Velez currently lives in Manhattan with her husband, two children, and their pittie Pluto. She is a proud Columbia Engineering parent (’28 SEAS).
Mary Fiore, MS
- Senior Director of Constituent Engagement and Events
- mf2865@cumc.columbia.edu mf2865@cumc.columbia.edu
Mary Fiore (SPS ’22), senior director of constituent engagement and events, is an innovative and creative engagement specialist with three decades of experience in fundraising, strategic programming, engagement events, and project management. Mary’s entire career has been centered in the nonprofit sector, where she has raised funds for renowned New York City and international nonprofits, such as The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Covenant House, the Princess Grace Foundation, Planned Parenthood, Help USA, the Innocence Project, Cooperation Ireland, and more. Mary has a master’s in nonprofit management from Columbia University. She joined Columbia Mailman School of Public Health in 2012 after leading Mary Fiore & Co.
Katie Mayfield, MA
- Senior Director of Development
- km4024@cumc.columbia.edu km4024@cumc.columbia.edu
Katie Mayfield, senior director of development, leads the individual major gift development efforts, reporting directly to the associate dean for development and alumni relations. With extensive experience in academic fundraising, donor relations, and strategic leadership, Katie is committed to advancing public health initiatives through impactful philanthropy.
Before joining Columbia Mailman, Katie served for five years as director of development at Rutgers Health, where she led fundraising efforts for both the School of Public Health and the School of Health Professions. In close collaboration with the deans, Katie significantly enhanced support for scholarships, health equity initiatives, and transformative research through major and principal gifts. In recognition of her impactful leadership and success, Katie was promoted to senior director shortly before she joined Columbia Mailman.
Katie’s academic background includes a master of arts in anthropology and PhD candidacy from Rutgers University, where she was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and women’s studies from the University of Georgia. In her early career, Katie spent five years in international development, working across Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Sudan, where she gained valuable global experience that informs her work today.
Catherine Block, MLIS
- Director of Information Management and Prospect Research
- cb3475@cumc.columbia.edu cb3475@cumc.columbia.edu
Catherine Block, director of information management and prospect research, joined the Office of Development and Alumni Relations in 2018. Prior to Columbia Mailman, Catherine served for six years as assistant director of prospect research at Harvard University’s Office of Development. She has also held positions in offices of development at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital, Boston. Catherine earned her BA in sociology and art history from Hobart and Williams Smith Colleges, in Geneva, NY, and holds an MLIS from Simmons University.
Sebastian Deken, MFA
- Director of Development Communications
- sjd2141@cumc.columbia.edu sjd2141@cumc.columbia.edu
Sebastian Deken (’16 SOA), director of development communications, joined Columbia Mailman in 2023. He previously spent more than five years as the associate editorial director in the Development Division of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, five years in board relations and special projects in the Department of External Relations and Development at Columbia Business School, two years as a client account specialist at Cleary Gottlieb, and two years supporting education and outreach programs at COCA, a community arts center in St. Louis.
Sebastian earned his BA in music and French language and literature at Washington University in St. Louis, and he holds an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University School of the Arts. He is the author of Final Fantasy VI (2021, Boss Fight Books), a ludomusicological study of the 1994 video game of the same name. A native of St. Louis, he now proudly lives in Queens with his husband Brett and his cats Gene Parmesan and Deloris Van Cartier.
Ellen Flax
- Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
- ef2816@cumc.columbia.edu ef2816@cumc.columbia.edu
Ellen Flax, director of corporate and foundation relations, comes to Columbia Mailman after working as a consultant to both grantmaking organizations and nonprofit groups seeking fundraising support. For a select group of projects, she worked in concert with the team at Amplify Partners, where she served as a partner. Ellen’s experience includes serving as the director of The Hadassah Foundation, the largest Jewish women’s foundation in the United States; serving as a senior consultant to the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation; and working as a program officer for a large family foundation. Before entering the nonprofit world, she was a journalist and worked for Education Week and the Associated Press. She earned her BA from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied history and economics. Ellen is also a rabbi, ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She has served congregations in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Virginia, and currently provides pastoral services at several eldercare facilities.
David Huggins, MSW
- Major Gifts Officer
- dh3229@cumc.columbia.edu dh3229@cumc.columbia.edu
David Huggins, major gifts officer, cultivates relationships with donors and secures major gifts to advance the School’s mission of improving global health. He has been with Columbia since April 2024.
David is a seasoned development professional with over 14 years of experience in frontline fundraising. He began his career in higher education with positions at New York University and Yeshiva University. He then joined Pace University's College of Health Professions as a major gift officer, where he focused on securing scholarships and legacy gifts from nursing and physician-assistant alumni.
Transitioning to the nonprofit sector, David served as the director of development at Public Health Solutions. He spearheaded fundraising efforts, organizing successful events and raising over $1 million in unrestricted funds for its gala. He then brought his expertise to the YM & YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood as the manager of grants and institutional giving. In this role, he managed a substantial grant portfolio and secured critical funding, including a $1 million U.S. Department of Labor award to establish a workforce development center. David holds a master of social work degree and an undergraduate degree from Yeshiva University. He believes that genuine relationships and attentive listening are the keys to successful fundraising. In his free time, he enjoys reading Louise Penny novels and gardening.
Yasmin M. Ibrahim
- External Relations Coordinator
- yi2227@cumc.columbia.edu yi2227@cumc.columbia.edu
Yasmin Ibrahim, external relations coordinator, is responsible for leading and supporting several external-facing projects, programs, and events on behalf of the School, including collaborating on the quarterly Alumni Newsletter and the biweekly News and Events Digest. Yasmin is also the point person for alumni events and logistics as well as the Calderone City Health Award.
A returning New York City native, Yasmin is a recent graduate of Rutgers University-New Brunswick. Yasmin’s interest in public health started when she joined her local EMT squad during the COVID-19 pandemic. She serves her community by returning to her local mosque in the Bronx to help community members navigate community resource and health care assistance programs. She joined Columbia University in 2022, and has been with the Columbia Mailman team since April 2024.
Seble Lemma
- Senior Associate Director of Donor Relations
- sl5542@cumc.columbia.edu sl5542@cumc.columbia.edu
Seble Lemma, senior associate director of donor relations, joined Columbia Mailman in October 2023. Prior to this, she served as development manager at Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, and before that spent more than five years as business development and operations manager at Helen Keller International. Before moving to the east coast, she lived in southern California where she worked as donor relations officer at the University of California and the California State University systems. Seble was born and raised in Ethiopia and is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, with a BA in history. She currently lives in New Jersey.
Jaylin Monroe
- Development Associate
- jsm2279@cumc.columbia.edu jsm2279@cumc.columbia.edu
Jaylin Monroe, development associate, conducts corporate and foundation prospect research and oversees key departmental operations such as gift processing.
Her career began as a temporary administrative coordinator at Columbia Climate School, where she developed a solid foundation in development work. Jaylin earned her BA in sociology at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, deepening her understanding of social determinants of health and the impact of societal structures on well-being. While in college, Jaylin volunteered at a nursing and rehabilitation center, assisting elderly residents with daily activities and organizing events to enhance their quality of life. This experience fueled her passion for public health and shaped her commitment to improving community health outcomes. A lifelong New Jersey resident, Jaylin enjoys hiking, painting, and traveling. Her enduring interest in public health drives her dedication to advancing global health and her commitment to her work at Columbia Mailman.
Breanna Patterson, MPA
- Major Gifts Officer
- bp2615@cumc.columbia.edu bp2615@cumc.columbia.edu
Breanna Patterson (’24 SIPA), major gifts officer, has been with Columbia Mailman since 2022. Before this role, she spent three years at Columbia Business School working in both corporate relations and individual giving. At the Business School, she also managed the David and Lyn Silfen Distinguished Leadership Series, which hosted speakers such as Reed Hastings, the co-founder and co-CEO of Netflix, and Ajay Banga, former president and CEO of Mastercard. Before Columbia, Breanna worked in the legal sector and with various nonprofit organizations.
Breanna earned an MPA from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and received a BA in English from the University of Connecticut, Storrs. Breanna is originally from Greenwich, Connecticut. She enjoys reading, writing, painting, and traveling.
Emily Skilton
- Donor Relations Assistant
- es4371@cumc.columbia.edu es4371@cumc.columbia.edu
Emily Skilton, donor relations assistant, joined Columbia Mailman in 2024. Prior to arriving at Columbia, Emily served as the volunteer and outreach coordinator at a homeless shelter for adults in Missoula, Montana, where she volunteered full-time with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest. Emily is a recent graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she majored in political science and studio art, and was a four-year member of the swimming and diving team. Emily was born and raised in New Jersey, where she currently resides.
Katie Weiser, MPH
- Director of Alumni Relations
- km3920@cumc.columbia.edu km3920@cumc.columbia.edu
Katie Weiser, director of alumni relations, leads engagement efforts and strengthens connections between Columbia Mailman and its alumni community. Katie is responsible for developing and implementing programs that foster lifelong relationships, enhance alumni participation, and support institutional goals. Additionally, Katie oversees communications, events, and volunteer initiatives, working closely with internal and external stakeholders to create meaningful opportunities for alumni involvement.
Before moving from Atlanta to New York to work at Columbia Mailman in 2023, Katie worked for over 10 years in public health, first as a CDC communications contractor and then leading Community Benefit at Grady Health System. Katie received her MPH from the University of Georgia.
- Fax 212-305-7372