Advancement Team

Cara Mohlmann, Director of Advancement
Cara Mohlmann joined the Blair advancement team in November of 2004 after spending seven years at Lafayette College as assistant director of the annual fund. There, she directed several programs, such as the young alumni fund, the parent fund, the senior class fund drive and volunteer initiatives. She began her career at Blair as the director of planned giving and stewardship. Cara took on the role of director of annual giving in July 2007–a great opportunity to use her annual fund background to work and grow the Blair Fund. In April 2010, Cara accepted the responsibility of overseeing the office management as director of advancement operations and annual giving. In 2012, she became Blair’s director of advancement.

Cara graduated from Lafayette College in 1997 with a BA in anthropology and sociology. In May 2010, she earned her master’s degree in non-profit leadership from New England College. She presently resides in Bangor, Pa., with her husband, Josh, and daughters, Emma and Olivia. Cara can be reached at (908) 362-6121, ext. 5628.

Rod Gerdsen, Assistant Director of Advancement for Annual Giving
Rod Gerdsen joined Blair’s faculty in 2004 as a marine science and honors biology teacher. Over the years, he has taken on increasing responsibility as an academic monitor for the junior class and Korean students, housemaster of East Hall and, most recently, assistant director of advancement for annual giving. He completed his undergraduate work at Colby College in 1993 and earned a master’s degree in marine science from the University of Rhode Island in 2000. He then spent four years as a teacher and director of residential life at the Pennington School in N.J., one year teaching biology at Florida Air Academy in Melbourne, Fla., and two years at Aiken Prep School in S.C., where he served as director of residential life and athletic director. During his tenure at Blair, he has coached squash, soccer, tennis and intramural teams. He and his wife, Cassi, live in East Hall, with their children, Kate and Jack. Rod can be reached at (908) 362-6121, ext. 5653.

Susan Long, Assistant Director of Advancement for Parent Relations
Susan Long is Blair’s assistant director of advancement for parent relations. In that role, she oversees parent capital giving and coordinates the School’s parent programs and parent volunteer activities. As a Blair parent herself (Conner ’13 and Wyatt ’16), she brings a unique perspective to her job, which involves traveling to see parents, as well as getting to know them at many on-campus events. Prior to coming to Blair in 2008, Susan worked at a number of non-profits, where she organized large fundraising events. She completed her undergraduate work in psychology at Washington College in Chestertown, Md., and lives in Blairstown, N.J., with her husband, Billy. In addition to Conner and Wyatt, Susan and Billy have one younger son, Garrett. Susan can be reached at (908) 362-6121, ext. 5705.

Velma Lubliner, Assistant Director of Advancement for Capital Giving 
Velma Lubliner is a proud Blair mom (Justin ’05 and Jenna ’09) who began working with the advancement office as a parent volunteer. She officially joined the staff in 2007, working with parent and alumni relations, became director of reunion giving in 2008 and is currently the assistant director of advancement for capital giving. She enjoys meeting and working with alumni and particularly likes to hear the joyful oral history of Blair from so many of them. Prior to coming to Blair, she worked at The Evergreen Community School in Mountainhome, Pa., and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Velma, who graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a BA in theatre arts, also taught voice in New York City and Stroudsburg, Pa. She and her husband, Sheldon, reside in East Stroudsburg, Pa. Velma can be reached at (908) 362-6121, ext. 5634. 

Lee Horne '77, Assistant Director of Annual Giving
Lee returned to Blair, and the advancement team, as the assistant director of annual giving in March 2013. As a Blair alumnae, past parent and former member of the advancement office (1999-2009), she brings a number of perspectives to her new position. Lee works with the classes of 1980 to 2004, coordinates the senior class gift program and oversees the student calling program.

An active volunteer, Lee has served as a class representative since 2003 and was the honored as Alumni Volunteer of the Year in 2012. She is the proud mother of Kyle ’02 and Drew ’05. She can be reached at (908) 362-6121, ext. 5656. 

Suzy Logan '99, Director of Communications
Suzy returned to Blair in February 2012. Prior to this, she worked for eight years at the American Thoracic Society in New York City, where she oversaw various marketing campaigns and served as editor of a number of print and electronic publications. She graduated magna cum laude with honors in English from Dickinson College in 2003 and earned her master’s degree in communications from Johns Hopkins University in 2012. Early in her career, she worked as a journalist in Pennsylvania and as a public relations specialist in Washington, D.C., before relocating to New York. Suzy lives in nearby Fredon, N.J., with her husband, Zach, and their two dogs, Monster and Mr. T. She can be reached at (908) 362-6121, ext. 5661. 

Jenny Maine, Director of Alumni Relations
Jenny Maine started her Blair career in the admission office as the associate director from 1986 to 1991. In 1989, she founded and coached the first girls’ soccer team. Two years later, she took a 10-year hiatus from Blair and moved back to her hometown in Minneapolis, Minn., where she served as director of the annual fund, alumni director and special events coordinator for her alma mater, The Blake School. Back at Blair since 2001, Jenny serves as Blair’s director of alumni relations. She is married to Eric Maine ’77, and she has two children, Jack ’13 and Harley. Jenny received both her BA and MEd degrees at Springfield College in Springfield, Mass. She can be reached at (908) 362-6121, ext. 5655. 

Jane Marvin, Director of Advancement Information Services
Jane joined Blair's advancement team in February 2013, after having been an associate in the communications department for two-and-a-half years. She spent the 10 years prior working with the School as a freelance consultant offsite. Jane earned a BA in photography from Montclair State University and often brings her camera at Blair events. She and her husband, Steve, have lived in this lovely corner of New Jersey since 1992, and are the proud parents of Andrew '12 and Alena. She can be reached at (908) 362-6121, ext. 5669. 

 

Sharon Merrifield, Director of Stewardship
Sharon Merrifield joined Blair’s Advancement Office in 2012; however, she is no newcomer to the Blair community. She earned her BA degree in French from Davidson College in 1986, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and first came to Blair as a faculty member, dorm advisor and coach in 1986. From 1990 to 1992, she worked as an associate in Blair’s admission office and served as an international student monitor. In the 1990s, she left Blair to continue her studies at Centenary College, earn her elementary education teaching certificate and work at Blairstown Elementary School  as a fourth grade teacher and coordinator of the school’s talented and gifted program. An avid athlete, gardener and baker, Sharon lives on campus in Jenkin’s House with her husband, science teacher Rob Merrifield, and their two children, Rebecca ’10 and Graham ’14. She can be reached at (908) 362-6121, ext. 5715.

 

Colleen Smarth, Advancement Associate
Colleen Smarth joined Blair as advancement associate in February 2011. Her responsibilities include editing Class Notes for the Blair Bulletin, assisting with parent and alumni relations, and database management. Prior to Blair, Colleen worked for two years at Sussex County Community College as a marketing associate and adjunct instructor. She holds a BA in journalism from Radford University and an MA in communication arts from William Paterson University. Colleen and her husband, Tim, reside in Fredon Township, N.J., with their two sons, Ronan and Aidan. She can be reached at (908) 362-6121, ext. 5684. 

Melissa Sneed, Advancement Associate
Melissa Sneed joined Blair as advancement associate in September 2010. Her responsibilities include processing gifts, preparing donor reports and maintaining database records. Prior to Blair, Melissa worked for three years at Centenary College as assistant director for the college’s strategic advancement department. In addition to working at Centenary, she is also an alumna, graduating in 2006 with a BA in history and certification in elementary education; she is pursuing a master’s degree in special education. Melissa and her husband, Jay, reside in Washington, N.J., and are expecting twins in October. Her hobbies include photography, painting, drawing, music and spending time outdoors. Melissa can be reached at (908) 362-6121, ext. 5631. 

Susan N. Staats, Advancement Associate 
Susan N. Staats joined the Blair community in 1981 and works as an advancement associate, assisting the director of advancement in the areas of major gift prospects and maintaining the prospect tracking. Other responsibilities include implementing a computer training program, record keeping for planned giving, assisting with the coordination of Trustee events, maintaining the accounting records for capital gifts received, and maintaining historical documents regarding Trustees, covenants, deeds of trusts, resolutions, bylaw amendments and Blair family genealogy. She is also the proud mother of Todd Quelet ’96. She can be reached at (908) 362-6121, ext. 5633.