PRESS RELEASES

PEARL STREET RECRUITS CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE COMMONWEALTH HONORS COLLEGE AT UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST

BOSTON & SAN DIEGO, April 1, 2024 – After completing a national search on behalf of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation, Pearl Street has recruited Catherine Rider as the new Executive Director of Development and Chief Development Officer for the Commonwealth Honors College. In her new role, Catherine is working alongside Dean Mari Castañeda to promote the Commonwealth Honors College as a centerpiece of the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s rising national profile and a destination of choice for academically accomplished students who want to define their life’s work in ways that create positive impact in the world.

Catherine joins from Idaho State University where she spent nearly eight years in progressive development roles for multiple units, partnering with the president, deans, advisory boards, and colleagues across the institution to advance donor interests. She ultimately held the position of Senior Director of Development for the College of Business. Her career began in banking where she focused on increasing consumer financial literacy and conducting extensive discovery and outreach to prospects.

Catherine earned a master of physical education and bachelor of science in health education, with high honors, from Idaho State University. She comes to UMAF at a time of transformation and growth as it prepares for the public launch of Accelerate: The Campaign for UMass Amherst, which has a working goal of $600 million.

Pearl Street, the search firm with purpose, is an award-winning, national, retained executive search and talent strategy firm serving the nonprofit, education, and healthcare sectors. Pearl Street works across function areas and brings an especially deep expertise in advancement and development. Women-owned and led by a diverse group of professionals deeply committed to equity in search, Pearl Street seeks to disrupt the traditional search dynamic by practicing radical empathy; listening and learning from others’ unique perspectives, lived experiences, and identities; and committing to transparency for all stakeholders. This purposeful approach informs every facet of their search process as they strive to build real relationships and deliver an unparalleled, values-rooted service that honors the whole person. For three consecutive years, Women of Color in Fundraising & Philanthropy (WOC) has named Pearl Street one of the Top Search Firms for Women of Color, and Hunt Scanlon has included them in their 2024 shortlists of top recruiters for nonprofits and higher education.