Meet Our Staff

Liz Kinast is the Lab of Ornithology’s assistant director of gift-planning administration and stewardship. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Wake Forest University and has spent her career in development, communications, and project management for mission-driven organizations. Prior to arriving at the Lab, she served as director of development and public relations for an early-childhood literacy nonprofit. Liz enjoys running and being outdoors and is raising her two daughters to love birds too.

E-mail: ec63@cornell.edu
Direct phone: 607-254-2471

Natalie Burgwin is the Gift Planning Associate at the Lab of Ornithology. She holds a master’s degree in business administration from Le Moyne College and a bachelor’s degree in sport management from SUNY Cortland. She has spent her career in development and database management for mission-driven organizations. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, horseback riding, and embroidering.

E-mail: nrb85@cornell.edu
Direct phone: 607-254-8443

Bramble Klipple serves as senior director of development at the Lab of Ornithology. Previously, Bramble worked for The Nature Conservancy for eight years, serving most recently as director of foundation relations and for 13 years at The College of William and Mary. She has a master’s in business, with a concentration in arts administration from The University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an undergraduate degree in English from the College of William and Mary. In her spare time, Bramble plays the Scottish fiddle and enjoys hiking with her family.

E-mail: bck42@cornell.edu
Direct phone: 607-254-1105

Carine Hails is the executive director of the Office of Trusts, Estates, and Gift Planning. She earned a BA from the University of Michigan, a JD from the Wayne State University School of Law, and an MS degree in administration, with a concentration in fundraising and philanthropy and a certificate in leadership from Central Michigan University. She practiced law for over 20 years, primarily in the areas of estate planning, probate administration, and probate litigation. Through her experience, which includes service within several civic and philanthropic organizations, she developed an interest in philanthropy and charitable giving that led her to become a fundraiser in higher education. Carine and her husband Walter, a veteran in the financial services industry, are originally from Detroit, Michigan, and have one son.

E-mail: cjh332@cornell.edu
Direct phone: 607-254-2302

Kathleen Bomysoad joined Cornell University as the associate director of Trusts, Estates, and Gift Planning. Kathleen oversees a team of skilled account administrators who process gifts to Cornell through estate planning and testamentary gifts. Kathleen holds an associate’s degree in paralegal studies from Broome Community College and worked as a paralegal for 30 years for several large law firms in the Binghamton area, concentrating on trust and estate administration, elder law, and guardianships. Her career in estate and trust administration led her to Cornell to apply her experience to charitable giving. She has served on numerous charitable boards and enjoys working with the public. Kathleen lives in Endicott, New York, and has two sons.

E-mail: kmb384@cornell.edu
Direct phone: 607-254-8070

Ian Garrett is associate director of gift planning and previously served as a major gift officer within Alumni Affairs and Development. With more than ten years of experience at Cornell, Ian brings a wide range of experiences to our donors. Prior to joining Cornell, Ian was a capital campaign consultant with the Winslow Group based in North Carolina. He holds a bachelor's degree from Binghamton University and a master’s degree in public affairs, specializing in nonprofit management, from Indiana University. Ian is from Corning, N.Y., and is busy raising three active children, Hannah, Jacob, and Bridget, with his wife Melissa.

E-mail: irg2@cornell.edu
Direct phone: 607-254-6179

Deborah Henry joined the Office of Trusts, Estates, and Gift Planning in September 2022 and is the administrative assistant to Christina Shutts, trust administrator. She comes to Cornell after serving more than 16 years with Tompkins Financial in various roles such as assistant vice president of remote banking, treasury associate, senior staff accountant and cash management team leader. She holds an AS in business management. She enjoys spending time with her husband Gary, an architect and partner at Hunt E.A.S., as well as their five grown children. She also enjoys camping, kayaking, gardening, and preserving what they harvest from the garden.

E-mail: djh345@cornell.edu
Direct phone: 607-254-3458

E-mail: aj433@cornell.edu
Direct phone: 607-254-5829

Rebecca Page Johnson MS '01 joined the Office of Trusts, Estates, and Gift Planning team with over fifteen years of experience in higher education, most recently as a tenured professor at Elmira College. Rebecca’s work on the board of directors at ASMS, an independent middle school in Corning, New York, sparked her interest in philanthropic giving and inspired her to return to Cornell to support her alma mater. She earned a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master’s degree in applied economics from Cornell University, and a doctorate in education from Syracuse University. When she is not working, Rebecca can be found hiking the trails of the Finger Lakes or kayaking on Cayuga Lake.
 
E-mail: rpj5@cornell.edu
Direct phone: 607-254-8437

Chelle Lust is the office coordinator for the Office of Trusts, Estates, and Gift Planning. She joined Cornell in 1999 in major gifts, but has spent the last 21 years with the Trusts, Estates, and Gift Planning team. Chelle also supports the executive director, as well as the director of gift planning and Gift planning officers. Chelle is the team lead for all advised bequests, budget, and overall gift reporting. In her free time, Chelle teaches dance at the Sonja Ward School of Dance and enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

E-mail: msl28@cornell.edu
Direct phone: 607-254-7189

Teresa Ausherman-Moore is an account representative in the Office of Trusts, Estates, and Gift Planning. She joined Cornell in November of 2000, and is the lead representative in processing and managing new, existing and terminating charitable gift annuities. When not working, she enjoys working in her flower gardens, traveling, and spending time with her family.

E-mail: tm89@cornell.edu
Direct phone: 607-254-1546

Rachel Rohwer '14 joined the team as Gift Planning Associate in May 2019. She is responsible for building new relationships and deepening stewardship practices. Prior to Gift Planning, Rachel spent three years as Data Manager for the Roper Center at Cornell and also worked in Admissions at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Johnson Executive MBA Program. Outside of work, you will find her exploring nature with her family or honing her skills as a museum taxidermist. She holds a BS with Distinction in Research from Cornell University and an International MSC in Social Policy Analysis.
 
E-mail: rbs238@cornell.edu
Direct phone: 607-254-6223

Jennifer Saville has been with the Office of Trusts, Estates, and Gift Planning for over 30 years. Her prior roles included working temporarily for the ILR School, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Now, as a securities administrator, she is responsible for receiving, recording, and acknowledging all gifts of securities, managing relationships with brokers, and maintaining reporting responsibilities to ensure compliance with industry regulations. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys the company of animals, listening to country music and attending racing events to cheer on her better half.
 
E-mail: jms36@cornell.edu
Direct phone: 607-254-1550

Christina Shutts joined as Trust Administrator in October 2022 and oversees gifts from realized bequests, trusts, life insurance policies, and retirement accounts. She also assists in the management of charitable remainder unitrusts where Cornell is Trustee. She joins the team from the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office. Prior to her tenure in the DA’s Office, she served as Office Manager and Paralegal for an Ithaca law firm. Christina holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community and Human Services. In her free time, she and her husband enjoy working together on household projects and spending time with their three adult sons and grandchildren.
 
E-mail: cls377@cornell.edu
Direct phone: 607-254-3465

Nancy Tillotson is an account representative for the Office of Trusts, Estates, and Gift Planning. She’s been with this office since October 1993, and is the lead representative for the Cornell University Donor Advised Funds. In her free time, she and her husband enjoy working together outside and spending time with family.
 
E-mail: nlt1@cornell.edu
Direct phone: 607-254-1542