Gretchen Dwyer P’24 has been appointed the Executive Director of Leadership Giving. A second-generation fundraiser with more than 25 years experience in educational advancement, Gretchen has been involved with three comprehensive campaigns. She thrives in positions that combine her experience and joy in major gifts fundraising and staff management. She began her career as a development assistant for The New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center’s capital campaign. She then worked for Boston University, Tower School, Bennington College, Washington College, and Amherst College in positions of increasing responsibility. Gretchen has spent the last several years as a senior consultant and search director for Lindauer, where she worked with numerous clients, including The University of Texas/Austin, The Bryn Mawr School, Dana Hall School, American University in Bulgaria, Bates College, Union College, and The Hotchkiss School.

Gretchen earned her master’s degree from Boston University and her bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University. She served as a board member of CASE District One, and co-chaired its sponsorship committee. She is an active volunteer with the Amherst, MA, public school district. She is the daughter of Victor von Schlegell III ’65, granddaughter of Victor von Schlegell II ’40, goddaughter of Dean Witter III ’65, and parent of Nell ’24.

Brent Alderman Sterste has been appointed the Director of Gift Planning. Brent began his career in advancement at Amherst College, where he served for a decade and rose to the position of executive director of leadership giving.

Since then he has worked in fundraising and leadership roles at mission-driven non-profits. Most recently, he was executive director of development at Western New England University.  Since Brent is a classic extrovert who is highly motivated by mission, development is a perfect fit for him. He will help Hotchkiss donors connect their deep passions with the School’s opportunities. As director of gift planning, he looks forward to helping alumni, parents, and friends of all ages make meaningful, mutually-beneficial gifts to Hotchkiss.  

Brent received his master’s degree from Harvard and his bachelor’s degree from Amherst. He lives in rural western Massachusetts with his wife, four children, and a number of assorted pets and livestock.

Dustin Bryant has been appointed the Hotchkiss Fund Director, effective August 17.

Dustin brings 15 years of fundraising and direct marketing experience to the Hotchkiss team. Born in Illinois and raised in Arkansas, Dustin began his fundraising career in San Diego, CA, writing appeals, producing galas, and soliciting leadership gifts for a regional theatre. He then moved to New York where he has spent the last 11 years advancing higher education institutions by engaging alumni and increasing participation in the annual fund. Dustin comes to Hotchkiss from The New School where he served as senior director of alumni engagement and annual giving programs.

Dustin has a passion for marketing analytics and thrives on using strategic communications to influence large groups of people to rally behind a cause, making annual giving a natural fit for him. Dustin holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a master’s degree in digital marketing from City University of New York’s Baruch College of Business. Dustin will be moving to Connecticut from NYC with his husband, Troy, and their dog Horton.