Staff Directory

Corporate and Foundation Relations

Susan Boerstling
Joe Matope
Dorcas Blue
Kafuti Talahumbu
Rachel Overby
Jeremy Evoy

 

Susan Boerstling

Assistant Vice President, Corporate & Foundation Relations

Susan Boerstling

Susan Boerstling, Assistant Vice President, Corporate & Foundation Relations, spearheads foundation and corporate engagement strategy for the university. She joined GW in 2013, and has more than 20 years of development experience specializing in partnerships with institutional funders. Prior to joining GW, Susan was with the Communications Consortium Media Center, a strategic communications nonprofit, for 13 years in a variety of positions, including development director and chief of staff. She also served at Georgetown University in the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations, and at the United Way of Massachusetts Bay in the marketing department. Susan is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Boston College with an A.B. in Communication. She is originally from Maine and enjoys lobster rolls and salt air.

Phone: 202-994-7384
Email: [email protected]

 

Joe Matope

Executive Director, Corporate Relations

Joe Matope

Joe Matope, Executive Director of Corporate Relations, is responsible for leading GW’s corporate relations team to develop mutually beneficial holistic partnerships with corporations. Prior to joining GW, Joe served as Director of Corporate Relations at the Kansas State University Foundation where he developed and enhanced corporate partnerships, and executed strategies for increased investment to university priorities. Joe’s professional experience includes 12 years in the private sector in operations, marketing and business development management roles before working for the Commonwealth of Virginia and Fairfax County government in roles where he was responsible for developing and managing relationships with corporations to support economic and workforce development programs to advance the Northern Virginia region. Joe has a bachelor’s in business marketing from West Virginia University and a master’s in international commerce and policy from George Mason University. He is currently a board member of NACRO (Network of Academic Corporate Relations Officers). Joe enjoys spending time with his family when he is not working.

Phone: 202-994-2270
Email: [email protected]

 

Dorcas Blue

Executive Director, Foundation Relations

Dorcas Blue

Dorcas Blue, Executive Director of Foundation Relations, focuses on health and medicine at GW, and brings diverse experiences in philanthropy, community relations, and project development to her role. Prior to GW, Dorcas was at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health where she raised funds for public-private biomedical research partnerships. Her background includes serving in foundation relations at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and as a grant-maker supporting community-based initiatives focused on public education, arts & culture, and the environment. A graduate of the University of Michigan and Florida Institute of Technology, she is perpetually interested in learning about a wide diversity of topics through travel, reading, and enjoying cultural events.

 

Phone: 202-994-1304
Email: [email protected]

 

Kafuti Talahumbu

Associate Director, Corporate Relations

Kafuti Talahumbu

Kafuti Talahumbu is the Associate Director of Corporate Relations at The George Washington University (GW). Kafuti fosters collaborative and dynamic partnerships among the 10 GW schools, GW senior leaders, and private sector partners. His work involves initiating, developing, and facilitating private industry collaboration within a portfolio of 81 institutes and works closely with institute directors, faculty, and corporate partners to secure resources for strategic initiatives across the GW community. Prior to his tenure with GW, Kafuti served as a Channel Partner Manager at Verizon, where he forged strategic alliances in the healthcare, education, and public sectors. With IBM, Kafuti orchestrated key initiatives, including the market roll-out strategy for Watson Education’s Partner Ecosystem and expanded IBM’s government contracting footprint. Kafuti background includes studying and reporting on Wall Street firms at The Investment Company Institute, providing critical market insights to the Federal Reserve Board, US Treasury, and other industry actors. Kafuti holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Public Policy from Saint Mary's College of Maryland and an MBA from The George Washington University School of Business. In his free time, Kafuti enjoys spending time with his family, reading, working out, and traveling.


Phone: 202-451-0217
Email: [email protected]

 

Rachel Overby

Assistant Director, Foundation Relations

Rachel Overby

Rachel Overby, Assistant Director of Foundation Relations, works across GW to obtain foundation funding for a range of faculty projects and institutional priorities. Prior to GW, she served as Assistant Manager, Foundation and Government Giving at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts where she focused on securing funding for the Center’s artistic and educational initiatives. Rachel is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Butler University and enjoys a number of creative pastimes such as knitting, sewing, and cake decorating.


Phone: 202-994-0753
Email: [email protected]

 

Jeremy Evoy

Development Associate, Corporate and Foundation Relations

Jeremy Evoy

Jeremy Evoy, Development Associate, graduated from GW in Spring 2022, majoring in Human Services and Social Justice with a specific interest in development and grant writing. He is now pursuing his master’s degree in Public Administration from GW with a concentration in Nonprofit Management. Jeremy supports the CFR team behind the scenes through numerous responsibilities and administrative tasks. As an undergraduate, he was heavily involved in community service through the Human Services and Social Justice Department, Alternative Breaks, The Honey W. Nashman Center, and Alpha Phi Omega, a gender inclusive community service fraternity. In his spare time, Jeremy enjoys reading fiction and thriller novels as well as attempting numerous art projects and styles.

 

Phone: 202-994-3211
Email: [email protected]