Dr. Lilya Wagner, CFRE
PHDE627 Cross-Cultural Philanthropy
Vice President for Philanthropy, Counterpart International
Washington, DC

Dr. Lilya Wagner is the Vice President for Philanthropy for Counterpart International. Prior to joining Counterpart, she held the positions of Associate Director, Public Service and Director of Women's Philanthropy at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University . She developed and managed projects and programs, such as the Philanthropic Ambassadors and the Hispanic Stewardship Development Partnership , and was in charge of curriculum preparation and revision for The Fund Raising School . Dr. Wagner is a frequent speaker and workshop presenter. As an accomplished author, Lilya's published writings include articles and book chapters on philanthropy, fundraising and the nonprofit sector, along with books and numerous articles on a variety of general interest and professional topics. The much acclaimed Careers in Fundraising is a comprehensive volume on fundraising as a profession and won a national prize in 2002. Lilya was also co-editor of New Directions in Philanthropic Fundraising . Lilya has done extensive international work, providing training and counsel for nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations in many countries, including her birthplace, Estonia . Lilya holds a doctorate in education from the University of Florida in Gainesville and has masters’ degrees in journalism and music.

 
Simone P. Joyaux, M.A., ACFRE
PHDE623 Relationships, Communication and Philanthropy
PHDE624 Volunteerism and Boards
Principal, Joyaux Associates
Foster, Rhode Island

Simone P. Joyaux, ACFRE, provides consulting services in fund development, strategic planning, board development, and management to all types and sizes of nonprofit / NGOs. A highly ranked presenter, Joyaux speaks in countries around the world. Simone is the author of Strategic Fund Development: Building Profitable Relationships That Last. She's currently co-authoring a book on relationships and communications in fund development, for publication in fall 2007. Simone serves regularly on boards and is the founder and current chair of the Women's Fund of Rhode Island, a social justice organization. While she was chair of CFRE International, the organization achieved its independence and established itself internationally. She has been recognized as Rhode Island's Fundraising Executive of the Year and Outstanding Philanthropic Citizen. Simone and her life partner give an estimated 10% of their income to charity annually and have bequeathed their entire estate to charity.

Karla A. Williams, M.A. , ACFRE
PHDE616 Individual and Organizational Leadership
Principal, The Williams Group
Charlotte, North Carolina

Ms. Williams is principal of THE WILLIAMS GROUP located in Charlotte, NC; a firm that serves clients across the country who want to enhance and expand their philanthropic efforts. She formerly served as President of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saint Paul, as Communications and Development Director for Children’s Home Society of Minnesota, and as Executive Director of the Minnesota Zoological Society. Ms. Williams is a frequent keynoter, seminar presenter, workshop instructor and writer in marketing, communications, and development on a national level. She serves as faculty for The Fund Raising School at Indianapolis/Center for Philanthropy; as adjunct faculty for the Center for Nonprofit Management at University of St. Thomas in Minnesota; as core faculty for St. Mary’s Master’s program in Philanthropy and Development; as a member of the Faculty Academy and Master Trainer for the AFP Survey Course and First Course.


Nicholas P. Smiar, Ph.D.
PHDE632 Theological and Philosophical Dimensions of Philanthropy
Professor and Chairperson, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Dr. Nick Smiar is Adjunct Professor in the graduate program in Philanthropy and Development at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. He has taught Theological and Philosophical Dimensions of Philanthropy to every cohort since Cohort #1. Nick earned his A.B.degree in classical languages and philosophy at St. Meinrad College (1964) and studied theology for two years at St. Meinrad School of Theology. Nick is also a graduate of the Divinity School of the University of Chicago He is Professor of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. His MSW specialization was group work and casework, with a focus on psychiatric social work, and his PhD specialization was social welfare and public policy. Prior to his work in social work education, Nick worked in residential treatment, child welfare, and psychiatric hospital settings and was executive director of a multi-service child and family welfare agency in Illinois for five years. He has been a social work educator for more than twenty years. His special interests are ethics in social work, social welfare policy, international social work, and organizational and community development. Nick has served as an invited Guest Lecturer in social welfare policy analysis at the University of South Africa. He has been a board member of the Wisconsin Chapter of NASW, and is currently a board member of the Bolton Refuge House (Eau Claire) and of the National Executive Board and Wisconsin State Board of the Professional Association of Treatment Homes (PATH). He works in Finland, Germany, and South Africa on a regular basis, doing instruction in risk management and safety enhancement for persons who work with volatile and potentially assaultive clients. Nick and his wife, Helene, live in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and are the proud grandparents of their first grandchild in 2006.

Philip G. Schumacher, CFRE
Executive Director, Gunderson Lutheran Medical Foundation
LaCrosse, Wisconsin

Philip Schumacher currently serves as executive director of Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation. The Foundation is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin and is responsible for the medical and health education, clinically based research and community outreach of Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center. Phil has served as executive director since 1993.

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation is currently involved in raising funds for annual operations, educational endowments, and is anticipating a major building campaign. The Foundation has received financial commitments of more than $20 (USD) million during the past 4 years.

Schumacher is active with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). He serves on the board of this international society. He is the past Vice Chair of Member Services and Treasurer of the Association. Phil has chaired numerous committees and task forces for the Association and served on a wide range of committees. He is a past member of the Committee On Directorship and a past chapter president.

Phil has been a member of the graduate faculty of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, where he taught in the Philanthropy and Development masters program. Phil held a variety of administrative posts in student development and institutional advancement, including vice president positions during his 16 years at the University before joining Gundersen Lutheran. Prior to his work at Saint Mary’s he was a high school teacher in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Phil is a volunteer with many non-profit organizations including Riverfront, the United Fund for the Arts and Humanities, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and his church. He has made numerous presentations related to fundraising at meetings and conferences throughout the United States and Canada. This past April he presented at the first Polish Fundraising Conference in Krakow, Poland.

Schumacher holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Norbert College, a Master of Arts Degree in Human Development from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and a certificate from the Executive Leadership Institute. He has held his CFRE certification since 1993.