We are pleased to welcome three new members to the Office of Alumni Affairs and Annual Giving team.

  Lauren Elefant, assistant director of alumni affairs, graduated Stern College/Sy Syms School of Business in 2007 with a degree in fashion marketing. She worked in the fashion world for a few years before deciding to use her creativity to plan events and fundraise at Manhattan Day School, a private yeshiva on the west side of Manhattan. At YU, Lauren will be focusing on alumni engagement activities for graduates of the undergraduate schools. Lauren says, “I am very excited to be working at YU where I can do what I love at a place that has given me so much.” Andrea B. Hale, director of annual giving, joins the Department of Alumni Affairs and Annual Giving from Cardozo Law, where she has worked since 2006. For the last three years she has held the position of director of annual fund and donor relations. Andrea holds a B.S. from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. It was in college that Andrea had her first exposure to Annual Giving – she served as a phonathon caller for the Cornell Fund. In addition to her non-for-profit experience, Andrea has extensive volunteer experience in event management and programming. As a member of the local Jewish community, Andrea served on the Board of Trustees at Ohab Zedek for six years. Shanicka Hamilton joined the annual giving team as executive secretary. She is currently a student at Medgar Evers CUNY College studying social and behavioral science. Her background includes working in health care, social services, volunteer services and human resources organizations at agencies such as the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty. She supports all aspects of the annual giving fundraising efforts.