Patricia G. Wang
Executive Director of Development, Gift Planning
Phone: 301.405.7764
Email: pwang1@umd.edu
Patty’s career in higher education fundraising has been in the service of UMD since 1986 in positions of progressive responsibility in front-line fundraising and development operations. She transitioned to gift planning and estate administration in 2006 and currently serves as the Executive Director of Gift Planning. Patty is a past president of the National Capital Gift Planning Council (NCGPC), the DMV council of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners and the 2019 recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Service Award, the highest recognition given by NCGPC. She received a bachelor’s degree from the California State University Los Angeles.

Vikki Ismael, CAP^®
Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy^®
Assistant Senior Director of Gift Planning
Phone: 301.405.4963
Email: vismael@umd.edu
Vikki joined the team in 2017 and brings over 30 years of fundraising experience to her role as a gift planning officer. She engages with alumni and friends that wish to make an impactful difference philanthropically through their estate and financial plans. Vikki is a member of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners and the DMV’s National Capital Gift Planning Council, having served on its board in numerous capacities. A native New Yorker, Vikki received her bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and her master's degree from Carnegie Mellon University. She is a Certified Gift Planning Associate and a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy^®.

Susan Byrne
Assistant Director of Development, Gift Planning Administration
Phone: 301.405.3346
Email: sbyrne15@umd.edu
Susan serves as the university’s liaison for all realized charitable gifts through estates/trusts in support of the academic units and university-wide programs by managing bequest and planned gift administration and processing incoming distributions. She received her bachelor's degree from Boston College and joined the team in 2019, bringing her many years of administrative and development experience at universities and other organizations.

Nicole Bergman Hand
Assistant Program Director, Marketing and Stewardship
Phone: 301.405.5356
Email: nbhand@umd.edu
Nicole brings nearly 20 years of development, marketing and event planning experience to the team and manages the marketing, communications and stewardship programs. She also oversees the Founders Legacy Society honoring alumni and friends that have chosen to generously support the university through their estate or financial plans, or other planned gift arrangements. Nicole received her bachelor’s degree from New York University and recently rejoined the university community after living in Cambridge, England for three years

Emily Romeo
Program Manager
Phone: 301.405.0397
Email: eromeo@umd.edu
Emily is the first point of contact for the Office of Gift Planning, providing administrative and organizational support for not only the entire team, but also to assist the university’s alumni and friends, all with efficiency and a friendly smile. She brings administrative experience from Towson University and other non-profit organizations. Emily received her bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg College and her master’s degree from the University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business.