Maryellen Himell-Ovadia
Maryellen Himell-Ovadia retired from UC Berkeley in January 2013 following a celebrated 22-year career as Executive Director of Development for the Division of Student Affairs. In this capacity she raised over $85 million and played a key role in designing and implementing donor-funded programs focused on student success, dedicated to keeping Berkeley accessible to a socio-economically diverse population. Upon her retirement, Himell-Ovadia was awarded the highly prestigious Berkeley Citation, presented for “distinguished achievement and notable service to the University”.
She advised senior campus executives on all matters related to fundraising for scholarships and student services. With a long history of developing programs and funds designed to help private investors realize their own philanthropic objectives, she worked with individual donors, corporations and foundations. She implemented campaigns for undergraduate enrichment programs; early childhood education initiatives; Berkeley’s innovative charter school Cal Prep; and undergraduate scholarships including the Incentive Awards Program, which grew to be the University of California’s largest privately funded undergraduate scholarship and leadership development program for disadvantaged youth.
Himell-Ovadia served as key fundraiser and strategist for two critical initiatives related to UC Berkeley’s $3 billion Campaign for Berkeley launched in 2008. She conceptualized and lead the $300 million campus-wide scholarship campaign; and she played a critical role in conceptualizing the Campaign for Student Life, including its capital initiative focused on the re-design of the campus’s iconic but long-neglected Lower Sproul Plaza as a re-energized hub of student engagement. As a senior campus authority on student issues, Himell-Ovadia also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Berkeley Hillel.
Soon after her retirement, Himell-Ovadia returned to the UC Berkeley campus for an 18-month consultancy, during which she spearheaded the establishment of UC Berkeley’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Center for Undergraduate Diversity. She developed the project’s strategic plan, trained staff in best development practices, and raised $3 million to launch the program.
Himell-Ovadia continues as principal partner with husband David Ovadia, in Ovadia & Associates, Strategic Development Consulting. She currently volunteers her time to consult with the Oakland Ballet, and serves as Volunteer Campaign Director for the Karaite Jews of America “Foundation for the Future” Campaign. The Campaign objective is to renovate and expand KJA’s Congregation B’nai Israel and to establish a national Jewish Karaite Cultural Center as a beacon for Jewish Karaites throughout the U.S.
A graduate of New York University in Political Science, with an M.A. degree from the London School of Economics in International Relations, Himell was Executive Director of the English-Speaking Union in San Francisco prior to joining UC Berkeley.
She advised senior campus executives on all matters related to fundraising for scholarships and student services. With a long history of developing programs and funds designed to help private investors realize their own philanthropic objectives, she worked with individual donors, corporations and foundations. She implemented campaigns for undergraduate enrichment programs; early childhood education initiatives; Berkeley’s innovative charter school Cal Prep; and undergraduate scholarships including the Incentive Awards Program, which grew to be the University of California’s largest privately funded undergraduate scholarship and leadership development program for disadvantaged youth.
Himell-Ovadia served as key fundraiser and strategist for two critical initiatives related to UC Berkeley’s $3 billion Campaign for Berkeley launched in 2008. She conceptualized and lead the $300 million campus-wide scholarship campaign; and she played a critical role in conceptualizing the Campaign for Student Life, including its capital initiative focused on the re-design of the campus’s iconic but long-neglected Lower Sproul Plaza as a re-energized hub of student engagement. As a senior campus authority on student issues, Himell-Ovadia also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Berkeley Hillel.
Soon after her retirement, Himell-Ovadia returned to the UC Berkeley campus for an 18-month consultancy, during which she spearheaded the establishment of UC Berkeley’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Center for Undergraduate Diversity. She developed the project’s strategic plan, trained staff in best development practices, and raised $3 million to launch the program.
Himell-Ovadia continues as principal partner with husband David Ovadia, in Ovadia & Associates, Strategic Development Consulting. She currently volunteers her time to consult with the Oakland Ballet, and serves as Volunteer Campaign Director for the Karaite Jews of America “Foundation for the Future” Campaign. The Campaign objective is to renovate and expand KJA’s Congregation B’nai Israel and to establish a national Jewish Karaite Cultural Center as a beacon for Jewish Karaites throughout the U.S.
A graduate of New York University in Political Science, with an M.A. degree from the London School of Economics in International Relations, Himell was Executive Director of the English-Speaking Union in San Francisco prior to joining UC Berkeley.
August 2016
