Leadership
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Carl A. Wayne, J.D. (he/him/his)
Executive DirectorCarl A. Wayne joined the Office of Gift Planning as its executive director in January 2024. Carl most recently served as the assistant vice president for planned giving at the University of Washington. His other advancement roles have included positions at UCLA, UNCF, United Way, and the American Heart Association …
Carl A. Wayne joined the Office of Gift Planning as its executive director in January 2024. Carl most recently served as the assistant vice president for planned giving at the University of Washington. His other advancement roles have included positions at UCLA, UNCF, United Way, and the American Heart Association where he covered 10 western states as a senior advisor for charitable estate planning. As a skilled fundraiser, relationship builder, and strategist, he also sits on the national boards of the American Council on Gift Annuities, Financial Planning Association, and Advisors in Philanthropy.
Charitable gift planning is Carl’s chosen career. He enjoys working collaboratively with others. Respect, dialogue, and being a good listener have been key to developing strong relationships. Learning is a lifelong endeavor. He strives to learn something new every day. Doing so helps him to envision new and different ways of doing his work to maintain interest and excitement, and it has resulted in contributing to new successful programs throughout his career. Carl earned his undergraduate degree at UCLA and his J.D. at the University of West Los Angeles Law School. When not working, Carl enjoys spending time with family, biking, walking, movies, cooking, reading, and perusing vintage bookstores.
As a proud graduate of the University of California, Carl is excited to join the advancement community at UC Berkeley and to engage in the meaningful services provided by the Office of Gift Planning team.
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Becky Thompson (she/her/hers)
Deputy DirectorBecky Thompson began her role as deputy director in the Office of Gift Planning in February of 2025. Becky brings a wealth of development and fundraising experience to her new role. She is an experienced philanthropy leader with 28 years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare, higher education, and nonprofit …
Becky Thompson began her role as deputy director in the Office of Gift Planning in February of 2025. Becky brings a wealth of development and fundraising experience to her new role. She is an experienced philanthropy leader with 28 years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare, higher education, and nonprofit organizations.
In 2012 she joined Sutter Health Philanthropy and steadily progressed in a variety of roles including principal, major, and planned giving. She served as the executive director of philanthropy, gift planning for the greater Sacramento, Central Valley, and Sutter Care at Home divisions of Sutter Health, building the gift planning program and team from the ground up.
Prior to Sutter Health, Becky was chief philanthropy officer for Mercy Foundation, raising funds for the Mercy Neurological Institute campaign and Mercy San Juan hospital. She began her career in nonprofit fundraising, then moved into higher education fundraising at San Francisco State University, Northern Arizona University and Sacramento State University. At Sacramento State, she oversaw the development department as associate vice president for development, leading a staff of 23 and managing a capital campaign.
Becky received her B.A. in Journalism from Franklin College of Indiana and has completed the Certified Specialist in Planned Giving (CSPG) program at Long Beach State. She currently serves as immediate past president of the Planned Giving Forum of greater Sacramento and is a member of the Sacramento Estate Planning Council. She lives in Carmichael, CA with her husband, her two children (and four rescue dogs) and enjoys gardening, hiking along the American River, and reading.
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Rachelle Regan, J.D. (she/her/hers)
Director of AdministrationRachelle Regan is the Director of Administration in the Office of Gift Planning. Rachelle has held her current role as the director of administration since 2016, overseeing the administration of estate gifts, the management of the life income gift program, and office operations. She also staffs the UC Berkeley Foundation …
Rachelle Regan is the Director of Administration in the Office of Gift Planning. Rachelle has held her current role as the director of administration since 2016, overseeing the administration of estate gifts, the management of the life income gift program, and office operations. She also staffs the UC Berkeley Foundation (UCBF) Trust & Annuity Subcommittee.
Rachelle graduated from the University of Oregon with a BA in Art History and earned an MA in Museum Studies from San Francisco State University. After earning her law degree from Loyola University Chicago in 2010, she worked as a law clerk at Harpo Productions and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and volunteered at CARPLS Legal Aid and the Center for Disability & Elder Law. Before joining the Office of Gift Planning, Rachelle worked on Berkeley’s campus as a development officer for the College of Environmental Design where she cultivated a deep appreciation for the intelligence, creativity, and generosity found in Berkeley students, faculty, and alumni.
Gift Planning Officers
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Melanie Keilholtz, CSPG (she/her/hers)
Associate DirectorMelanie Keilholtz is a California native, who grew up in rural Shasta County. Before entering college, Melanie had a bad case of wanderlust and lived abroad in Europe and Africa before coming back to graduate from UC Santa Cruz (Go Slugs!) and Boston University (Go Rhett!)
Melanie worked for Bay …
Melanie Keilholtz is a California native, who grew up in rural Shasta County. Before entering college, Melanie had a bad case of wanderlust and lived abroad in Europe and Africa before coming back to graduate from UC Santa Cruz (Go Slugs!) and Boston University (Go Rhett!)
Melanie worked for Bay Area nonprofits such as the Oakland Museum, the Dunsmuir Historic Estate, and Opera San Jose. She was the marketing director of ANG Newspapers (Oakland Tribune, San Mateo County Times, and The Tri-Valley Herald to name a few) prior to coming to UC Berkeley.
Melanie came to Berkeley in 2006. Since then, she has had the opportunity to work with Berkeley alumni and friends, and their advisors on a wide range of gifts funded with assets including real estate, securities, cash and, occasionally, works of art. She knows that for students past, present, and future, studying at Berkeley is the opportunity of a lifetime. She enjoys collaborating with alumni who want others to have the same experiences — or even better ones — than they did at Cal. She is a Certified Specialist in Planned Giving having completed her studies with the American Institute for Philanthropic Studies and California State University, Long Beach (Go Prospector Pete!)
Melanie is an avid gardener and backpacking enthusiast who lives with her family and assorted critters in the North Bay.
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Samantha Meritt, J.D. (she/her/hers)
Associate DirectorSamantha is a San Francisco native who is delighted to be working with donors to support UC Berkeley as a preeminent teaching and research university. Having spent the majority of her career in university and other non-profit environments, Samantha has a deep appreciation for the power of public-private partnerships in …
Samantha is a San Francisco native who is delighted to be working with donors to support UC Berkeley as a preeminent teaching and research university. Having spent the majority of her career in university and other non-profit environments, Samantha has a deep appreciation for the power of public-private partnerships in supporting the common good. She finds great satisfaction in facilitating such partnerships to help secure Cal’s future.
After graduating from Stanford University with B.A.s in linguistics and German studies, Samantha dedicated the first twelve years of her career to higher education and non-profit management, focusing on budget, finance, and administration. Upon earning her law degree, Samantha worked in the for-profit arena for a technology start-up in San Francisco before happily returning to academia at UC.
Facilitating planned gifts to support Cal integrates the aspects of Samantha’s career she enjoys most — working with individuals and organizations to achieve their strategic, financial, and legal goals while benefiting the larger community.
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Johanna Morgan, J.D. (she/her/hers)
Assistant DirectorJohanna joined the Office of Gift Planning as an Assistant Director in May 2025. A proud alumna of University of California, Berkeley, she is thrilled to return to her alma mater and reconnect with the community that helped shape her path. She earned her J.D. and Tax LL.M. from the …
Johanna joined the Office of Gift Planning as an Assistant Director in May 2025. A proud alumna of University of California, Berkeley, she is thrilled to return to her alma mater and reconnect with the community that helped shape her path. She earned her J.D. and Tax LL.M. from the University of San Diego, where she developed a strong foundation in legal and tax planning.
Johanna finds it serendipitous that a decision made at 18 years old to attend UC Berkeley continues to influence the course of her life and career. Today, she enjoys helping alumni and supporters rediscover their own connections to UC Berkeley by facilitating meaningful and impactful philanthropic gifts. She is particularly passionate about the relationship building at the heart of fundraising and enjoys helping donors align their philanthropic goals with opportunities that will benefit UC Berkeley for generations to come.
Outside of work, Johanna lives in the East Bay with her husband, their three children, and two doodle dogs. She enjoys spending time with family and staying connected to the Berkeley community. Go Bears!
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Kimberly Vawter, J.D. (she/her/hers)
Associate DirectorA former estate planning attorney, Kimberly now works as an Associate Director in the Office of Gift Planning at her alma mater UC Berkeley. She received her J.D. from UC Hastings College of the Law and is a member of both the California and Washington State Bar Associations. Kimberly recognizes …
A former estate planning attorney, Kimberly now works as an Associate Director in the Office of Gift Planning at her alma mater UC Berkeley. She received her J.D. from UC Hastings College of the Law and is a member of both the California and Washington State Bar Associations. Kimberly recognizes the vital importance of philanthropy and the critical role that it plays in advancing public education in our beloved state. In fact, her entire immediate family consists of University of California graduates! Kimberly finds working with donors to design and structure gifts so that Cal receives the highest and best benefits now and in perpetuity both profoundly rewarding and fulfilling. Go Bears!
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Kim Vo, J.D. (she/her/hers)
Assistant DirectorKim Vo joined the Office of Gift Planning as an assistant director in April of 2025. Prior to joining the Office of Gift Planning, Kim worked at an estate planning firm in San Francisco for over a decade, where she drafted trusts and wills for her clients. Kim earned her …
Kim Vo joined the Office of Gift Planning as an assistant director in April of 2025. Prior to joining the Office of Gift Planning, Kim worked at an estate planning firm in San Francisco for over a decade, where she drafted trusts and wills for her clients. Kim earned her undergraduate degree from UC Davis and her J.D. from UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings). In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews and watching the San Francisco Giants.
Administration
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Jovy Pivnick (she/her/hers)
Senior Estate AdministratorJovy began her career at Berkeley in 2008 as a Donor Stewardship Associate in the College of Engineering. In 2017, she joined the Office of Gift Planning, where she now leads the estates team in facilitating bequest gifts to the campus and ensures donors’ wishes are honored in accordance with …
Jovy began her career at Berkeley in 2008 as a Donor Stewardship Associate in the College of Engineering. In 2017, she joined the Office of Gift Planning, where she now leads the estates team in facilitating bequest gifts to the campus and ensures donors’ wishes are honored in accordance with University gift acceptance policies. She works closely with trustees, personal representatives, estate attorneys, and financial institutions to administer various types of bequest gifts that advance Berkeley’s mission, and ensures each gift is handled thoughtfully and in compliance with federal laws governing charitable bequests.
Prior to coming to Berkeley, Jovy worked for The Oakland Raiders football organization, specializing in e-commerce administration for over seven years. Jovy earned her Paralegal Studies Certificate from San Francisco State University and Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management from Arizona State University. She is an active California Notary Public and assists many units across campus in this capacity.
Outside of work, Jovy enjoys cheering on Bay Area sports teams and attending Cal events with her husband and two sons. Go Bears!
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Ramona Jacobson (she/her/hers)
Trust & Annuity ManagerRamona Jacobson is a lifelong resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, with over two decades of service in the UC System. She joined the Office of Gift Planning in 2007, following five years with the UC Office of the President’s Office of Technology Transfer. As the Trust & Annuity …
Ramona Jacobson is a lifelong resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, with over two decades of service in the UC System. She joined the Office of Gift Planning in 2007, following five years with the UC Office of the President’s Office of Technology Transfer. As the Trust & Annuity Manager, Ramona partners with front-line fundraisers to establish and administer life income and outright gifts that benefit the Berkeley campus. She holds a BA in Business Administration from Holy Names University, Oakland and a paralegal certification from California State University, East Bay. Outside of the office, Ramona finds her “happy places” knitting, running, trekking through the East Bay hills, or practicing her latest pursuit: watercolor painting.
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Lara Larsen (she/her/hers)
Senior Estate AdministratorLara Larsen has been a member of the Office of Gift Planning since 2015 and currently serves as an Estate Administrator. With over a decade of experience in estate and gift operations and client services, she plays a key role in administering and processing estate gifts that support Berkeley’s long-term …
Lara Larsen has been a member of the Office of Gift Planning since 2015 and currently serves as an Estate Administrator. With over a decade of experience in estate and gift operations and client services, she plays a key role in administering and processing estate gifts that support Berkeley’s long-term philanthropic impact.
Prior to joining the Berkeley community, Lara earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Salve Regina University and began her career in retail and business-to-business sales. She later relocated to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she continued in retail management before transitioning to the nonprofit sector through her work with Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates and her volunteer service with the American Red Cross of Massachusetts.
Lara is inspired by the collective care reflected in this work and values collaborating with colleagues across departments to help advance Berkeley’s mission of teaching, research, and public service.
