ST. ALBANS SCHOOL - Key Persons
Brennan Lafeber, who joined the Development Office in summer 2023, is also serving as assistant golf coach. Following his graduation from Saint John's University, in Minnesota, Brennan spent a year in Tororo, Uganda, volunteering with the Benedictine Volunteer Corps. Upon his return to the U.S., he worked as the assistant director of annual giving at Saint John's University. Most recently, he served as the annual giving manager at Totino-Grace High School in Minnesota, where he directed annual fund solicitations. At Totino-Grace, he was the assistant golf coach, helping lead the team to their first Minnesota State Championship in school history. Brennan enjoys golfing, biking, rock climbing, and playing music.
Job Titles:
- Financial Aid Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Special Events Manager
- Director, Special Events and Creative Services
Since joining the development team in the fall of 2014, Kari Wade has served as the special events manager, covering all types of events for our alumni, parents, faculty, and friends of the school. She also designs many of the print and online material for the Development and Alumni Office. Prior to St. Albans, she worked for four years as the events and operations manager at the Wildwoods Convention Center in New Jersey, and spent three seasons leading the group events department for the Bowie Baysox minor league baseball team. Kari is a 2002 graduate of Lawrence Academy in Massachusetts, and she received her B.A. in communication from the University of Maryland at College Park.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Annual Giving
- Director of Annual and Leadership Giving
Kavon Akhtar joined the annual giving team in August 2015 as associate director of annual giving. He then served as the director of young alumni giving until 2019, when he became director of annual giving. A D.C.-area native, he received his bachelor's degree in business administration from George Washington University. Kavon came to St. Albans from Flint Hill School, his alma mater, where he served as sports information director and then as director of alumni relations. Kavon is responsible for developing and implementing annual giving's strategy. Kavon serves as a primary point of contact for donors and supports the work of our dedicated volunteer teams. In addition to his steadfast work in the Development Office, Kavon has served as an assistant coach for the varsity basketball team since the 2016-17 season. He and his wife, Jordan, reside in Arlington, Va.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of Alumni Relations
Lanier Frank joined the development team as director of alumni relations in 2014, and is responsible for engaging alumni of all ages in their support of the school and one another. He works to build on-campus and regional events that encourage all alumni to remain actively involved in the life of the school. Previously, he served as vice president at Crossway Community Inc., advancing fundraising efforts as an entrepreneurial nonprofit in Maryland, and prior to that at a division of Johnston, Lemon & Co. that sponsored and administrated over $50 billion in mutual fund assets. Volunteerism on the Close includes his service as head of the NCS Annual Fund, chair of St. Albans Annual Giving, and 16 years on the St. Albans Alumni Association Board, the last two as president. Lanier received a B.A. in business administration from Vanderbilt University. He and his wife, Bethany, have two children, Shepherd '09 and Campbell '10 (NCS).
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Admissions
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Development and Alumni Relations
Melanie Hoffmann has thirty years of experience in fundraising, strategic planning, communications, and alumni and parent relations. She comes to St. Albans from Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove, Fla., where as director of advancement she completed an $82 million campaign for endowment, a new STEM Center, and a variety of other programs, while also growing their annual fund to $4.7 million. Melanie previously served as assistant head of school and director of external affairs at Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, Vt., and as director of institutional advancement at the Pingry School in Basking Ridge, N.J. At each institution, she has immersed herself in school life, serving as a student advisor and adjunct dorm parent, and working to increase a sense of belonging among local and international parent and alumni communities. Melanie received her B.A. in art history and German from Hollins University and her M.S. in education (with a focus on school leadership) from the University of Pennsylvania.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Lower School Faculty Representative
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Russert '04 ( Annual Giving Chair )
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- NCS Representative
Job Titles:
- Director of Development Services
Manager of development information systems since July 2018, Preston hails from New Orleans, by way of Alaska, Georgia, and Washington, D.C. Most recently, he served as a database administrator and grant writer for the Louisiana SPCA, where he adopted/rescued his best buddy, Bogie, a terrier mix. Preston holds degrees from American University (B.A. in law and society) and the University of Georgia School of Law (J.D.). Following law school, he clerked for the Honorable Anna M. Moran, Superior Court Judge, in Kenai, Alaska, and represented indigent clients as a public defender in Southeast Georgia. An active volunteer, Preston built homes in Cambodia with Habitat for Humanity and served on the board for several LGBT organizations in Louisiana. Preston considers himself an epicurean adventurer and a musical theater aficionado.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Associate Director of Alumni Relations
Robin Boswell is the associate director of alumni relations in the Development Office, where she is responsible for planning for alumni events, electronic communication, web updates, and alumni class notes. She came to St. Albans in 1997 as a development assistant, primarily responsible for gift entry and data base management. In 1999, she became the assistant to the director of development and office manager. Robin then took on the position of admissions and financial aid assistant from 2004 to 2007. Before coming to St. Albans School, Robin served as a senior secretary for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Prior to the FRB, she served as secretary and legal technician to the General Counsel of the Office of Justice Programs at the Department of Justice.
Job Titles:
- Development Office in 2015 As a Senior Development Officer
- Director of Major Gifts
Ted Pelonis joined the Development Office in 2015 as a senior development officer. In this role, he builds and strengthens relationships with individuals and families to match their philanthropy with the school's priorities. Prior to joining St. Albans, he held development positions at the American Heart Association, George Washington University, Georgetown University, and Bread for the City. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, he holds a degree in English literature and continues to enjoy reading as well as playing tennis and golf. A twenty-year District resident, Ted lives in Logan Circle with his wife, Eve, daughter, Rhea, and son, Leo.