This year, CSSW merged the Offices of Development & Alumni Relations and Communications to form the Office of Communication Strategy, Development and Alumni Affairs. We are pleased to announce Linara Davidson Greenidge, Loren Childress, Nina Lomingelli, and Gregory Jones as new members of the team.

Linara Davidson Greenidge joins us as Associate Dean of the department. Linara brings a wealth of expertise from the public, non-profit, and private sectors to CSSW, where her responsibilities include: engaging alumni and friends who share the School’s vision; promoting the visibility of the School through strategic communications; expanding connections with key stakeholders; managing existing and new fundraising initiatives, with a particular focus on scholarship support; identifying new partners and supporters dedicated to social and racial justice; leading impactful cross-disciplinary teams, initiatives, and projects; and, serving as liaison to the University’s development and alumni relations efforts.

Linara comes to CSSW from East Harlem Tutorial Program, Inc. (EHTP), an education non-profit founded in 1958 to support young people from East Harlem. As Chief Development and External Affairs Officer and a member of EHTP’s senior management team, she led the organization’s fundraising program that included annual giving, major gifts, and institutional funding. She was responsible for raising operating budget funds and a $60 million capital campaign, developing an alumni program, building relationships with key stakeholders and volunteers, and managing EHTP’s public relations and communications.

Formerly, Linara was Vice President at Ogilvy Public Relations and has extensive experience in senior positions in government offices and in political campaigns. Linara is a graduate of both NYU and Columbia SIPA; she is a trained anti-racist/racial equity facilitator; and she previously served as an adjunct instructor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She also brings experience from her board service and volunteer work.

Loren Childress is the Director of Communications and Marketing. She has worked in and transformed the educational and nonprofit space for the past decade. Loren is proud to have worked within education reform for some of the nation’s largest charter networks and school systems holding executive positions and illuminating each network’s mission through thoughtful, strategic content. Her thorough upkeep to their websites, social channels, multimedia presentations, and relationships with community members and patrons have been direct catalysts in building more awareness and opportunities for these incredible institutions. Loren firmly believes that education is an indispensable human right–one of the most powerful tools at our disposal–and that wielding that tool wisely is critical for our evolution and elevation.

Nina Limongelli is Special Assistant to the Associate Dean of Communications Strategy, Development and Alumni Affairs. Originally from Bucks County, PA, Nina graduated from Bucknell University in May of 2021 with a double major in International Relations and Theatre. Outside of academics at Bucknell, she was involved in all theatre and dance productions, the first-year orientation program, SpeakUp: Bucknell’s sexual assault prevention organization, and worked for admissions as a tour guide. After having graduated, Nina took a position as Special Assistant to the Chief Development and External Affairs at East Harlem Tutorial Program (EHTP), where she gained hands-on experience in development, communications, and public engagement within the organization. Her passion for the arts and advocacy initially led her to the nonprofit space where she could further lean into anti-racist work, and deeply values EHTP for their commitment to racial equity and attentiveness to the needs of the community. She is thrilled to join Columbia University School of Social Work to further embrace this kind of work and become a valued member of the team.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Gregory S. Jones, new Director of Development at CSSW! Prior to CSSW, Greg was an Associate Director of Major gifts for the University of Pennsylvania and managed a portfolio of alumni philanthropists in the New York Metro region.Greg was also Chair of the Development and Alumni Relations Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Action Committee. As Chair, he collaborated with colleagues to develop a long-term plan of implementing DEI into staff culture.

We are so excited to have Gregory on our team and look forward to seeing the impact he will continue to make on the CSSW community.