The CSU Foundation staff is here to serve you and help advance the mission of Colorado State University.

For assistance, please reach out to our team at csuf_help@mail.colostate.edu.

Looking for our Board of Directors or have a more general inquiry? Please complete the contact form below.

Executive

Allen Padilla
Allen PadillaInterim President/CEO & Chief Financial Officer
As Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the CSU Foundation, Allen provides strategic and operational leadership, guiding the organization in advancing its mission to support Colorado State University. In this role, he oversees the Foundation’s financial operations and investment portfolio, collaborates with the Board of Directors and University leadership, and drives strategic innovation and process improvement across the organization.

Over a 20-year career, Allen has amassed a diverse background of education and experience, including degrees in electrical engineering and finance, working as a software engineer, project manager, investment analyst, accountant, operations manager, and director of investments. As a result, Allen brings a unique perspective and depth to his leadership at the CSU Foundation.

Accounting

Terilyn Larson
Terilyn LarsonController
Terilyn leads the CSU Foundation’s accounting team, providing oversight of financial systems and ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of financial reports and tax returns. A Certified Public Accountant, she holds a Master’s of Accountancy with an emphasis in tax.

Before joining the Foundation, Terilyn worked at a CPA firm, where she developed both experience with and a passion for serving nonprofit organizations. She remains active in her community, serving as treasurer for her homeowners’ association board and volunteering as a tutor in English as a Second Language and financial literacy.

 

Marie Dondlinger
Marie DondlingerAssistant Controller
Marie oversees investment accounting, external reporting, endowment activity and reporting, and the month-end close process. She also assists campus partners with their financial needs and serves as the Foundation’s liaison with both the outsourced chief investment officer and custodial bank.

Before joining the Foundation, Marie worked at a CPA firm where she focused primarily on auditing not-for-profit organizations

Kurt Flock
Kurt FlockSenior Accountant
Kurt is responsible for fund reporting, accounts payable processing, bank reconciliations, pledge activity, and transfer requests. He brings more than three decades of accounting experience to the role, including a 32-year career in Christian publishing and additional experience in the construction industry.

Outside of work, Kurt is an avid photographer and dedicated member of the Loveland Photographic Society where he currently serves as vice president.

Rilla Williams
Rilla WilliamsDirector of Business Data
As the CSU Foundation’s expert in data and its integration with CSU systems, Rilla plays a vital role in ensuring that data processes function seamlessly to support the Foundation’s mission and campus partners.

With more than 30 years of service to the Foundation, she contributes deep institutional knowledge and experience gained from a variety of roles since beginning her career as an accounting assistant.

Laura Richins
Laura RichinsScholarship & Accounting Coordinator
Laura manages the processing of scholarships and oversees the setup and maintenance of new and revised funds. She has been instrumental in streamlining and enhancing scholarship administration to better support CSU students.

Before joining the Foundation, Laura built a diverse professional background through roles in the public school system and as an account manager, where her work provided opportunities for extensive international travel. Inspired by a desire to serve and make a meaningful difference, she transitioned her career to the nonprofit sector to contribute her skills to a mission-driven organization.

 

Rachel Fairbairn
Rachel FairbairnSenior Accountant
Rachel manages monthly investment valuations, oversees daily contribution journal entries, and supports Power BI reporting for the Foundation.

A proud Colorado native and double graduate of Colorado State University, she holds both a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and a Master’s of Accountancy. Rachel’s deep connection to her alma mater fuels her dedication to advancing the Foundation’s mission in support of CSU students and the broader university community.

 

Fund Services

Keely Ahlbrandt
Keely AhlbrandtFund Services Manager
Keely leads efforts to develop gift and fund documentation that advances CSU’s mission while honoring donor intent. She manages all aspects of gift administration, including fund creation and closure, drafting and amending agreements, and improving systems for efficient and accurate fund management.

A Loveland, Colorado native, Keely finds great fulfillment in her work supporting CSU students as they pursue their dreams.

Sara Keohan
Sara KeohanFund Services Manager
Sara ensures that gift and fund documentation is both compliant and impactful. She oversees fund creation and closure, drafts and amends agreements, and develops best practices and resources to support campus partners.

Sara holds a bachelor’s degree in writing and brings experience in media production, marketing coordination, and communications. She is honored to contribute to the Foundation’s service-driven mission.

Gift Services

Sarah Miller
Sarah MillerGift Services Manager
Sarah leads the CSU Foundation’s Gift Services team, overseeing daily operations and fostering efficiency, collaboration, and positivity across the organization. She also serves as a liaison to CSU’s University Advancement division, supporting donors, campus partners, and the broader university community.

Sarah joined the CSU Foundation in 2024 after nearly eight years with CSU’s Constituent & Gift Information Team. Her professional experience in higher education spans supervising, training, teaching, and administrative roles within Student Affairs and University Advancement. She holds an M.S. in Education from Nazareth College and a B.A. in History from SUNY Fredonia.

 

Christina Cheng
Christina ChengSenior Gift Services Specialist
Tina supports gift capture, donor outreach, and communication across affiliated departments, along with a variety of administrative responsibilities.

A proud CSU alumna, she earned a B.S. in Health and Exercise Science with a concentration in Health Promotion. After building extensive experience in the fitness industry, Tina was inspired to return to the University community, pursuing new learning opportunities while giving back to CSU.

Alecia Lindsay
Alecia LindsayGift Services Specialist
Alecia manages incoming donations and serves as a campus resource for inquiries related to gift capture, receipting, and resolution.

Alecia joined the Foundation in 2024, bringing more than 12 years of administrative experience to her role.

A Colorado native, Alecia earned an associate degree in Business Administration from Front Range Community College. Her strong administrative background and dedication to CSU drive her commitment to supporting the University’s mission.

Suzanne Traver
Suzanne TraverGift Services Specialist
Suzanne manages the receiving, preparation, and processing of contributions to Colorado State University. She brings more than 20 years of professional experience to the role, including leadership positions in financial services, banking, and program management.

Before joining the Foundation, Suzanne worked with Edward Jones as a Branch Office Administrator and served as an Assistant Branch Manager with FirstBank, where she led branch operations, strengthened client relationships, and maintained regulatory compliance. A proud CSU Ram, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts with a Certificate in Ethnic Studies from Colorado State University. Suzanne is also an active community volunteer, supporting Junior Achievement, the Larimer County Food Bank, March of Dimes, and Project Self-Sufficiency.

Human Resources

Sondra Thompson
Sondra ThompsonHuman Resources Manager
Sondra oversees payroll, benefits administration, and employee onboarding. She also supports performance evaluations and leads staff development initiatives, including training and team retreats.

Prior to Sondra’s extensive career with the CSU Foundation, she worked in banking, buying and selling millions of dollars in federal funds on a daily basis.

Legal

Grant Calhoun
Grant CalhounGeneral Counsel
As a member of the executive team, Grant provides legal counsel and strategic guidance across Foundation operations, including governance, complex agreements, compliance, and gift administration. He manages all legal matters, ensuring gifts are accepted and stewarded in alignment with donor intent while safeguarding the Foundation’s integrity and long-term support for CSU.

Grant has over 15 years of experience in higher education, including roles in both the CSU Office of the General Counsel and the Office of the Vice President for Research, where he advised on major projects involving university operations, capital construction, corporate partnerships, research collaborations, intellectual property, and public-private partnerships.

Grant earned his J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and a B.A. from Dartmouth College.

 

Jody Minch
Jody MinchParalegal/Legal Assistant
Jody manages the processing and realization of estate and trust gifts. She brings more than 40 years of paralegal experience spanning civil and employment law, litigation, insurance, arbitration, estate planning, probate, and estate litigation.

Jody began her career in the United States Marine Corps, completing paralegal training and serving as a Battalion Legal Clerk at Camp Pendleton and as a paralegal for the Judge Advocate General at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. She later worked for the State of Colorado Water Conservation Board before spending 35 years supporting attorneys in private practice. 

Operations

Savanna Page
Savanna PageOffice Administrator
Savanna serves as the first point of contact for the CSU Foundation, providing exceptional customer service, supporting daily operations, and assisting across all areas of the organization.

Savanna joined the Foundation in March 2025, bringing several years of experience in property management, where she developed expertise in office operations and client relations.

She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University and is passionate about helping bring donors’ visions to life. Outside the office, Savanna is an avid reader and an active volunteer at her local library.

 

 

Technology & Information Systems

Dipen Patel
Dipen PatelDirector of Information Systems
Dipen oversees the organization’s information infrastructure, including both hardware and software systems. He collaborates with University Advancement IT on special projects and partners with CSU Academic Computing & Network Services to develop and implement IT and data security policies.

With more than a decade of dedicated service to the Foundation, Dipen applies his deep technical expertise to ensure secure, reliable, and efficient operations across the organization.

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