Syracuse Bolsters Athletics Development Staff

Syracuse Director of Athletics John Wildhack is re-shaping the athletics development staff in order to solidify existing relationships, enhance the connection with former student-athletes, and strengthen communication channels. Executive Director for Athletics Development Bob Arkeilpane '81, who returned to his alma mater in 2017, is leading the team that includes Andrew Hurley, director of major gifts; Jason Poles '99, assistant athletics director for major gifts; Patti Giancola '83 BS, '89 MS, director of development major gifts; Brandon Hodgins, director of annual giving; Tiffany Macon '12, assistant director of annual giving; Will Hicks, executive director of the Varsity Club & athletic alumni engagement; Jenna Rodgers '13, development associate/major gifts assistant; Holly Zahn '12, donor relations coordinator; and Risa Karl, administrative assistant.

"I am elated at the diverse and talented staff we have assembled," Arkeilpane said. "We have progress to make in the development area to support our highly successful student-athletes as they compete for championships. We are committed to expanding our donor base and to improving our communication and relationships with our long-time supporters."

Hurley, a seasoned major gifts fundraiser with 25 years of experience at the Division I level, joined the athletics development staff in 2017 as the director of major gifts. His vast experience in collegiate fundraising includes positions at Cal State Fullerton, Cincinnati, and the University at Buffalo. A husband, father, and grandfather, Hurley has an undergraduate degree from the University at Buffalo and a master's degree in sport administration from the University of Massachusetts.

Poles returned to his alma mater as assistant athletics director for major gifts in 2012. A four-year football letterwinner, Poles helped the Orange to three consecutive BIG EAST football titles from 1996-98 and served as co-captain of the 1998 squad that played in the Orange Bowl.

After earning a bachelor's degree in speech communication in 1999, Poles was invited to the New York Jets camp as a free agent. He transitioned from pro football into the business world in 2000, joining Vintage Mortgage Corporation in sales management and business development. Poles has also worked as a sales consultant for Wachovia Bank, regional sales manager for TD Bank USA, as a branch manager for Susquehanna Bank, and as a senior loan consultant for Infinity Home Mortgage. Poles and his wife, Nikki, have three children -- Brandun, Taylor Jai, and Jordan.

A native of Central New York, Giancola returns to her alma mater as the director of development major gifts, transitioning from her position as the Principal of Giancola Consulting in Fayetteville, N.Y. A fundraising professional with more than 25 years of extensive experience in campaign management, development, and donor relations, Giancola will manage individual major gift prospects and help identify investors to support the athletics department vision.

Giancola has served as the capital campaign director at McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center,
director of development at the YMCA of Greater Syracuse, and director of development during the "Commitment to Learning" Campaign at Syracuse University.

She is actively involved in community affairs and most recently served as a board member of the Onondaga Citizens League and co-chair of the 2017-18 study on The Status of Community Engagement in Central New York. In 2004, she was awarded the Distinguished Citizen of the Year award from the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce.

Giancola earned a bachelor's degree in economics and international relations in 1983 and her M.S. in public relations from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1989. She resides in Fayetteville with her husband, Ken, and two children, Annika and Hunter.

Hodgins joined the athletics development team in June 2018 as the director of annual giving after working as the director of development for major gifts in the University of Missouri athletics department. At Syracuse, he will be responsible for implementing and executing a comprehensive annual giving program, overseeing the priority points program, and managing individual leadership annual giving projects.

At Missouri, Hodgins was responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and closing gifts for scholarship funds and renovation projects. In 2017, Hodgins was a member of the fundraising team that raised $50,400,000 for Mizzou Athletics. He also served as a liaison to the St. Louis Tigers in order to raise funds for Mizzou Athletics in the St. Louis area.

Hodgins also brings his fundraising experience from Western Carolina University, North Carolina State, and Virginia Commonwealth. At WCU, he was responsible for developing relationships with fans, students, donors, and community members, communicating with donors, and leading, planning, scheduling and organizing events for the Catamount Club, which raised money for scholarship funds and re-connected alumni through reunion events. At NC State he solicited, interacted, and communicated with donors to raise awareness about and funds for the Wolfpack Club. Hodgins began his career in athletics development at Virginia Commonwealth as a graduate assistant in 2013-14 while pursuing his Master of Education in sport leadership.

Hodgins played football at Buffalo State, where he earned his B.S. in education, coaching, and administration.

Macon officially joined the Orange Club staff as assistant director of annual giving in July 2018 after serving as an intern during the 2017-18 academic year. Macon is responsible for assisting the director of annual giving, managing individual leadership annual giving prospects, coordinating solicitations and stewardship of annual athletics donors. In 2018, Macon was selected as a National Association of Athletic Development Directors Diversity Initiative Program recipient.

Prior to returning to her alma mater, Macon was the middle school program manager for Community Rowing, Inc. in Boston. During that year, she also gained experience in collegiate athletics as a student-athlete academic counselor intern and as a volunteer for Boston College's Development Office's Flynn Fund. In 2016-17, Macon volunteered at the America East Conference compiling video analytic data from various platforms while working with the director of strategic media and assisted with operations for the conference's baseball, track and field, and women's basketball championships.

A four-year member of the Syracuse women's rowing team (2009-2012), Macon earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors as a senior captain in 2012, was a four-year BIG EAST All-Academic honoree, and a member of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll for seven semesters. She earned a bachelor's degree in health and exercise science in 2012. Macon is a member Women Leaders in College Sports, formerly known as the National Association of Collegiate Women's Athletics Administrators (NACWAA), and the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD)

Hicks is transitioning from his role in the Orange strength and conditioning program to executive director of the Varsity Club & athletic alumni engagement. Hicks will provide leadership for the Varsity Club, manage relationships with all current and former Syracuse NFL players, and serve as the staff liaison to all other associated athletic clubs and organizations, including the Syracuse Football Club, the Hardwood Club, and Syracuse Alumni Rowing Association (SARA).

Hicks came to Syracuse in 2000 as the director of the strength and conditioning for the Orange football program. After serving in that role for 16 years, he transitioned to working with Syracuse's women's tennis, rowing, field hockey, and softball teams.

Hicks has coached several prominent professional athletes during his tenure at Syracuse, including NFL All-Pros Dwight Freeney and Chandler Jones and Super Bowl Champions Arthur Jones, Jameel McClain, and David Tyree, in addition to Syracuse graduates and NFL players Ryan Nassib, Justin Pugh, Jay Bromley, and Shamarko Thomas. He has mentored multiple Syracuse University student-athletes who have competed for national teams in rowing and field hockey.

A Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (C.S.C.S.), Hicks attained (*E) Emeritus status from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) in 2011. In 1999, Hicks was named the Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year by the NSCA.

Prior to his time at Syracuse, Hicks spent more than a decade on the strength and conditioning staff at North Carolina State, including 1996-2000 when he served as the Wolfpack's assistant athletics director for football operations and head strength and conditioning coach. During his tenure, Hicks was part of a coaching staff for 14 bowl games and two conference championships.

Hicks earned his bachelor's degree in recreation resources administration with an emphasis in sports management from North Carolina State in 1987. Hicks has three children -- Jessica, Connor, and Carson, and a grandson, Ashton.

Rodgers joined the Orange Club staff as development associate/major gifts assistant in April 2018 after spending three years as a compliance coordinator for the University's Office of Athletic Compliance. She is responsible for planning, coordinating, and supervising the wide variety of special donor events and activities and for serving as tactical assistant to the athletics development major gift staff.

As a compliance coordinator, Rodgers monitored the recruiting activities for all sports. She also tracked and monitored time demand legislation, agent registration and monitoring, playing and practice seasons, and assisted with compliance-related projects.

She has been involved in many community service projects, including mission trips in Haiti and Brazil to build facilities for sports participation. Rodgers has also been active in the professional development of women leaders in college athletics, assisting with training and open forums.

Rodgers, who was a four-year member of the Syracuse women's soccer team (2009-12), serving as captain her junior and senior seasons, earned her bachelor's degree in psychology in 2013. She is tied for 10th on Syracuse's career assists record list and was a member of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll all four years. Rodgers used her fifth year of collegiate athletic eligibility to play women's basketball at the University at Buffalo, where she earned a master's degree in administration. She and her husband, Sam, a 2015 Syracuse graduate and four-year football letterwinner, reside in Syracuse.

As donor relations coordinator, Zahn is responsible for working with the athletics development staff in the areas of hospitality and donor relations. Prior to joining the athletics development staff in 2018, Zahn was the communications coordinator for Imagining America: Artists and Scholars in Public Life, a higher education consortium previously based at Syracuse University and now UC Davis. She also worked for SU Arts Engage where she managed performances and organized community events. She recruited more than 2,500 students to attend a world premiere play at Syracuse Stage featuring the stories of Congolese refugees.

As a student at Syracuse University, she worked for the Orange Television Network (OTN) while pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in film with a minor in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises. She is a candidate for a master's degree in public relations from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Karl joined the athletics development staff in 2018 after working at the University as a human resources representative since 2013. She is responsible for managing the athletics development office and overseeing the execution of the athletics development budget.

As a human resources representative, Karl utilized legal and HR knowledge to enhance compliance with University policies and federal and state regulations, analyzed all employment information, managed daily reports, and audited data. Prior to joining the University, she worked for Carrols Corporation as the safety and risk claims coordinator and as a payroll representative. She earned bachelor's degree in human resources from Bryant and Stratton College in 2009.

About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and nearly 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience. The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries.

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