Leadership

Leslie H. Nelson-Bernier is interim vice chancellor for development at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she leads fundraising efforts across the University. In addition to overseeing development professionals serving more than 20 schools and units, she partners with administrative and academic leaders to engage Carolina’s community of donors, alumni, friends and volunteers, and connect their generosity with the University's mission and strategic priorities. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Foundation Investment Fund, Inc. Nelson-Bernier became interim vice chancellor in September of 2026 after serving as senior associate vice chancellor of development. 

Previously, Nelson-Bernier was the inaugural chief philanthropy officer for NC Children’s, a joint initiative between UNC Health and Duke Health to build North Carolina’s first freestanding children’s hospital and pediatric healthcare enterprise. This followed a 20-year tenure at UNC Health and the UNC School of Medicine, including eight years as chief philanthropy officer and president of the UNC Health Foundation. In that role, she led a high-performing team of nearly 60 development professionals and guided statewide efforts to advance research, education and patient care through transformative philanthropic investment.

She joined UNC Health and the UNC School of Medicine in 2005 and quickly earned a reputation as an exceptional, results-driven leader. Her experience included successful development roles with UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and several clinical and research departments. She also served as senior executive director of development and communications for UNC Children’s.

Before her career in academic medicine and healthcare philanthropy, Nelson-Bernier spent a decade in corporate sales and event management in the hospitality industry. She began her fundraising career at the University of Virginia’s School of Architecture.

Nelson-Bernier lives in Chapel Hill with her husband, Gary, and sons, Carter and Hunter. They also have two adult children, Alex and Hope.

Jen Bowman is chief of staff for the vice chancellor for development and associate vice chancellor for donor relations, volunteer engagement, talent management, information technology, events, finance and facilities. She supports the vice chancellor’s day-to-day responsibilities and helps coordinate strategy across the executive team. She also serves as assistant secretary and assistant vice president for the UNC-Chapel Hill Foundation.

Bowman joined Carolina in 2011 after a decade in the private sector, expanding third-party fundraising efforts with community and corporate partners at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. In 2017, she became director of development for donor and volunteer engagement for the Campaign for Carolina, the largest and most successful campaign in the Southeast. In 2021, she served in an interim role as senior executive director of development at UNC Health Foundation, leading the advancing health fundraising team.

A native of Pinehurst, North Carolina, Bowman earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She is also an alumna of the Advancement Leadership Lab, a joint venture between Carolina and nine peer institutions that accelerates the growth of senior leaders across the advancement profession. She lives in Chapel Hill with her husband, Lee, and their two daughters, Caroline and Charlotte.

Jeff Hill is the associate vice chancellor for campaigns and strategy. In this role, he oversees campaigns, principal gifts, business intelligence, digital innovation and database management. Jeff moved to the University Development Office in 2017 to direct strategy, reporting and logistics for the University’s Campaign for Carolina, which was the largest and most successful campaign ever in the Southeast when it concluded in 2022.

Previously, Hill served as director of advancement at UNC’s Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, where he increased giving tenfold. During his 14 years at Morehead, he also served as director of marketing and interim director.

Before moving into higher education advancement, Hill was an Emmy Award-winning producer at ABC11 in the Raleigh-Durham television market. He holds a bachelor’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media and an MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. He is an alumnus of the inaugural cohort of the Advancement Leadership Lab, a joint venture between Carolina and nine peer institutions that accelerates the growth of senior leaders across the advancement profession. He lives in Chapel Hill with his wife, Melanie, and their son, Tyler.

Lusha Kaufmann is associate vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and foundation relations and industry engagement, partnering with the provost, vice chancellor for research and vice chancellor for innovation to develop, manage and fundraise for signature initiatives that will shape the future of UNC-Chapel Hill. She works closely with University senior leadership, deans, development officers and volunteers to build on Carolina’s strengths in innovation. She also leads fundraising teams focused on scholarship and student access, the School of Data Science and Society, campus capital renewal, and research and innovation.

Before joining Carolina, Kaufmann spent 12 years at the University of Oregon, most recently as assistant vice president for academic initiatives, where she led a team focused on the priorities of the president and provost. She previously served as senior director of major gifts in the Lundquist College of Business. During her tenure at Oregon, she helped celebrate the successful completion of an ambitious $3.24 billion campaign.

Kaufmann brings more than 25 years of fundraising experience to Carolina. She credits her early years selling candy bars door to door in middle school and her experience as a phonathon caller at her alma mater, Pacific University, for helping shape her career path. She and her husband, Chris, enjoy exploring North Carolina.

Sean Mulligan is associate vice chancellor for development, working with teams responsible for individual giving. In this role, he collaborates with Annual Giving, Regional Fundraisers, Alumni Engagement, Global Initiatives and Parent & Family Giving.

Before joining Carolina, Mulligan served as senior director and chief development officer for the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. He also held development roles at Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan, Wayne State University Law School and the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

Mulligan worked for nearly 15 years as a PGA golf professional before moving into higher education, with experience at Oakland Hills Country Club, Oak Hill Country Club, The Creek and the PGA of America headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Ferris State University and a master’s degree in management from Michigan State University. He and his wife, Laura, live in Cary, North Carolina with their dog, Finn, and have three children: Maggie, Patrick and Benjamin.

Tim Smith is associate vice chancellor for development at UNC-Chapel Hill and a veteran fundraiser with deep experience in philanthropy across campus.

Smith joined the Educational Foundation, also known as the Rams Club, in 2005 and held a variety of roles during more than 15 years with Carolina Athletics, ultimately serving as deputy director. He was a driving force behind the Rams Club and Athletics exceeding their $500 million goal in the last campaign.

Before joining Carolina, Smith was a consultant for Accenture, focused on financial services. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and political science from Boston College and a master’s degree in exercise and sport science, with a focus in sport administration, from UNC-Chapel Hill. He and his wife, Kristi, live in Chapel Hill with their four children, Ella, Sienna, Tyler and Hudson.