UMAF Appoints Catherine Rider as CDO for the Commonwealth Honors College

After completing a national search, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation has appointed Catherine Rider as the new Executive Director of Development and Chief Development Officer for the Commonwealth Honors College. In Catherine’s new role at the UMass Amherst Foundation, she will work alongside Dean Mari Castañeda to promote the Commonwealth Honors College as a centerpiece of the university’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.

She earned a master of physical education and bachelor of science in health education, with high honors, from Idaho State University. Catherine 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. The Pearl Street team is thrilled to welcome Catherine and her wife Amy to the Pioneer Valley!