Meet the Team: Office of University Advancement
Questions, concerns, or ideas? We want to hear from you! Please stop by the Office of University Advancement on the 8th floor of Academic Hall. You can also email us at alumni@pointpark.edu or call 412-392-8096.
Ted Black (He/Him)
Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Strategy
tblack@pointpark.edu
412-392-6176
Ted oversees alumni affairs and development, external relations, and strategic initiatives. A Pittsburgh native, Black earned a B.A. from Allegheny College and a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Prior to joining Point Park in 2023, Ted spent six years as president and CEO of the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in Harrisburg, completing some of the most transformative projects in the Center’s history, such as the PNC Innovation Zone, a nationally recognized learning lab that uses video games as a platform for educational and vocational development. Black previously spent many years as part of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ core management team hired by Mario Lemieux. He also was vice president and general manager for Regional Sports Network FSN Pittsburgh before leaving the area to become president of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.
Jill Zoria (She/Her)
Assistant Vice President of University Advancement
jzoria@pointpark.edu
412-392-4750
Jill develops and executes strategies to cultivate relationships with alumni, donors, and other stakeholders to secure support and engagement with the university’s mission and goals. She provides strategic leadership to the advancement team, collaborates with university leadership, and ensures the successful implementation of fundraising and engagement initiatives. Jill has a B.A. in Communication from the University of Pittsburgh and has proudly called the Pittsburgh region home ever since. Prior to joining Point Park in 2023, Jill was the Vice President of Investor Relations at the Allegheny Conference. In this capacity, she managed high-value corporate fundraising and cultivated investor relationships. Prior to this, she served as the Director of Marketing Strategy & Development for the Butler County YMCA Association. Earlier in her career, Jill co-founded and played pivotal roles in two Pittsburgh-based marketing and tech startups, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit.
Mariah Peoples (She/Her)
Director of Alumni & Donor Engagement
mpeoples@pointpark.edu
412-392-8082
Mariah is responsible for a comprehensive alumni and donor engagement program through regional and national events, working with our Alumni Board of Directors, volunteer opportunities, and consistent communication and social media engagement. She joined University Advancement in January 2023 after spending 4 years at Pennsylvania Western University California campus. Mariah earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from California University of PA and her Master’s Degree in Human Resources Development from Villanova University. She spent 8 years working in University Development and Alumni Relations in various capacities, and is looking forward to making a difference at Point Park University.
Lou Corsaro (He/Him)
Director of Public Relations
lcorsaro@pointpark.edu
412-392-6190 | 704-860-6186 (cell)
Lou develops and manages media relations programs and outreach efforts at the local and national levels while acting as the University spokesman. He also plays a key role in crisis communications and writes for Point Park’s alumni magazine, The Point. Prior to joining Point Park in 2014, he spent nearly 20 years as a professional journalist, a significant amount of that time in Pittsburgh.
Jen Dittrich (She/Her)
Manager of Advancement Services
jdittrich@pointpark.edu
412-392-6162
Jen manages alumni, donor, and constituent data. Jen joined Point Park as the Data Specialist in August 2014 and has since been promoted to Coordinator of Development Resources and again to her current role as Manager of Advancement Services. She has over 15 years of experience in donor services as she previously served as gift entry and donor records specialist at Carlow University. Jen earned her bachelor's degree in Business Administration from La Roche University.
Kat LaBelle '20 (They/Them)
Social Media & Communications Officer
klabelle@PointPark.EDU
412-392-4204
Kat joined the University Advancement team in April 2023 after spearheading branding and communication endeavors at a startup for 3 years. They are responsible for supporting University-wide efforts to inform, engage, and build investment through a variety of marketing channels. As proud Point Park Alumni, Kat received their B.A. in Multimedia with a concentration in Graphic Design in 2020.
Shawnda Gee (She/Her)
Administrative Assistant
sgee@pointpark.edu
412-392-8096
Shawnda joined the Point Park University Office of University Advancement in October 2022 after working in the Financial Aid Office for ten years. She holds a BA in Education with a minor in Information Technology from Point Park University.