Meet the Development and Alumni Relations Team

E lboyle@cwsl.edu P 619-515-1543

Lori Boyle is the Director for Development and Alumni Relations. Reporting directly to the Dean, Lori oversees Development, Alumni Relations and Meetings and Events for the law school. Lori is responsible for the overall strategy and implementation of the law school's philanthropic and alumni programs; major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, regional development, cultivation and stewardship events and programs, alumni board of directors, alumni relations programs and gift policy procedures. Lori manages and implements alumni, donor and volunteer cultivation, stewardship and recognition events; identifies prospects; establishes and maintains relations with alumni and donors. Lori is responsible for the coordination of fundraising for the Third Year (3L) Law Student Gift Campaign, the annual Alumni Board Fundraising Project, Faculty and Board of Trustee Campaigns and recruits San Diego alumni to enhance participation and increase annual giving to the law school. Lori provides opportunities for California Western graduates to network and connect with the law school. She manages the school's alumni outreach programs, such as managing and directing the Alumni Association Board of Directors in setting its mission, policies, goals, fund raising efforts and recruits board directors, organizes the annual California Western School of Law Annual Alumni Weekend Celebration and all San Diego and regional alumni receptions. Lori has dedicated over 22 years in higher education in the areas of development, alumni relations and event management. She previously served as Director of Alumni Relations at UCLA School of Law, UCLA School of Social Welfare and National University. She also served as Assistant Director of Regional Development at UCSD, Assistant Director of Development at UCLA School of Social Welfare and Administrative Director for the UCLA Office of Government and Community Relations. She received her Master's of Social Welfare degree in planning, administration, and community organization from UCLA, a bachelor of arts degree in social welfare from California State University, Chico and an associate arts degree from Boston University. In 1992, Lori was selected as the student commencement speaker for the UCLA School of Social Welfare. Lori welcomes the opportunity to speak with alumni, donors and friends of the law school.

E jobest@cwsl.edu P 619-515-1548

Jonathan Obest oversees annual giving and the donor/alumni database. Specifically, Jonathan manages the direct mail and  online solicitations, the law school's employee giving campaigns and data extraction and maintenance. Prior to joining California Western in 2006, Jonathan served as Annual Giving Officer and Development Coordinator at Woodbury University in Burbank, Calif. Contact Jonathan for: Annual Fund, online giving, gift planning.

E zsmith@cwsl.edu P 619-515-1546

Zachary Smith is responsible for securing philanthropic support the law school's major donor program, such as scholarships, professorships, endowments, memorial funds, naming opportunities, etc. at California Western. Zachary coordinates regional donor and alumni programs and events throughout the year to increase alumni volunteer and philanthropic support. Zachary joined California Western in August of 2010 from development department at Portland State University where he served as the Major Gifts Qualification Officer and Annual Giving Officer. Contact Zachary for: Juris Society, Major Gift opportunities and regional donor and alumni participation.

E events@cwsl.edu P 619-515-1689

Marlene Blas has served as associate director for meetings and events at California Western School of Law in San Diego since 2002. In this role, she is responsible for planning more than 100 meetings and events annually. Key among these are: conferences, commencement, alumni reunion weekend, receptions throughout the U.S., and swearing-in ceremonies at the U.S. Supreme Court. Blas received her master of tourism administration from The George Washington University School of Business in the event and meeting management concentration, a bachelor’s degree in journalism and marketing from California State University, Long Beach, and a certificate in event management from the University of San Diego. In addition to lecturing internationally at industry conferences, Blas is the program advisor and lead instructor at California State University, San Marcos, in the Meeting and Event Planning Certificate Program. Her current appointments include: Membership Advisory Council and Industry Advisory Panel for Meeting Professionals International, Editorial Board for The Journal of Event Management, a peer review journal and the Editorial Advisory Board for Southern California Meetings + Events Magazine.

E adenisov@cwsl.edu P 619-515-1542

Alex Denisov reports to both Development and Alumni Relations and Marketing and Communications. Alex joined California Western in 2009 as Web Content Manager and Database Administrator. In this position, Alex's responsibilities include content management, web development and design initiatives for Alumni Connect, as well as supporting the database and fundraising efforts of the law school. Prior to joining California Western, Alex held several positions at software and technology companies in the greater San Diego area, including stints at BrightCloud, PageTech, and Kintera. Alex received his B.A. in International Studies: Economics with an emphasis on Political Science from the University of California, San Diego.