Leslie Taylor Gonnella
Associate Vice President, Development Operations and Services
Leslie Taylor Gonnella is a seasoned executive-level development professional with a track record spanning over two decades, dedicated to leading the operational and administrative aspects of development and alumni relations programs. With a passion for driving impactful outcomes, Leslie excels in building highly productive and strategic teams that deliver proactive solutions.
Currently serving as the Associate Vice President of Development Operations and Services at the Georgia Institute of Technology since April 2023, Leslie oversees the day-to-day operations of the development division. Her responsibilities include managing diverse teams covering budget and finance, prospect development, information processing, reporting, donor relations, event management, gift administration and facilities. She plays a pivotal role in building and leading the systems and processes that support the division in meeting and exceeding annual fundraising goals.
Prior to her current role, Leslie held significant leadership positions at institutions such as Lehigh University and the University of Chicago. At Lehigh University, as the Associate Vice President & Chief Operating Officer from October 2017 to March 2023, Leslie led operations for the development and alumni relations division, modernizing all operations teams and spearheading division-wide planning efforts overseeing the launch of the $1 billion-dollar campaign. At the University of Chicago, Leslie served in leadership roles for the Medical Center and Hospital supporting grateful patient fundraising, Central operations supporting all schools and units across campus and eventually Booth School of Business, where she served as the Chief Operating Officer and Campaign Director, she oversaw development operations and led the department in the successful launch of a $1 billion-campaign.
Throughout her career, Leslie has demonstrated a unique ability to collaborate with institutional leaders, manage multi-billion-dollar campaigns, build development communications teams, campaign brands and plans, design relationship management systems, and oversee data analytics, reporting, and pipeline development. Her expertise extends to talent management, budgeting, and finance, as well as event management, CRM conversion, gift administration, compliance and policy development.
Leslie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Whittier College and has been recognized as a Fulbright Research Scholar (Budapest, Hungary). Her commitment to excellence, coupled with her strategic mindset and extensive experience, continues to drive impactful outcomes in the field of development and alumni relations.