Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) today announced that Catherine Saunders, vice president for advancement, will depart her role on February 20 to pursue a new professional opportunity.
During her tenure, Saunders led SMWC to several historic achievements, including reaching a fundraising high of almost $9 million in a single year in 2023-24 and guiding the Woods Fund to its highest level in institutional history of over $3.5 million last year. These accomplishments strengthened the College’s philanthropic foundation and expanded support for scholarships, academic programs and student success initiatives.
“We are grateful for Catherine’s leadership and the significant progress achieved under her direction,” said President Brennan Randolph. “Her commitment to strengthening donor engagement and elevating our advancement efforts has made a lasting impact.”
Saunders will work closely with BJ Riley, associate vice president for strategic marketing & community relations, over the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition. Effective immediately, Riley will serve as interim vice president for advancement.
“BJ is a trusted and collaborative leader whose deep knowledge of SMWC and strong relationships across campus and the community position him well to guide the Advancement team during this transition,” Randolph said. “I am confident in his ability to continue the positive momentum that Catherine and the Advancement team have built.”