Contact Institutional Advancement
Nathaniel Gilman House
46 Front Street
Exeter NH 03833-2460
Phillips Exeter Academy
Office of Institutional Advancement
20 Main Street
Exeter, NH 03833-2460
Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST)
Federal Tax ID No: 02-0222174
Meet the Team
Karla Ashenhurst
I grew up in Portsmouth, NH and love living on the NH Seacoast. I attended the University of New Hampshire where I received my B.A. in Political Science. I began a career in Human Resources with a concentration on reporting and analytics. While working in Human Resources on a temporary assignment in 2018, I had an opportunity to learn about the role Phillips Exeter Academy plays in shaping the lives of young people from every quarter.
Deb Bacon
I grew up in Exeter and have always lived in the Seacoast area. In 1983, I joined the Academy in the Annual Giving Office. Over the years, I continued fundraising for Exeter in both the Capital Giving and Planned Giving offices.
Brett Berger
A resident of Exeter and longtime admirer of the PEA campus, I joined the Institutional Advancement team as a part-time employee in summer of 2021. As Stewardship Report Coordinator for Donor Relations, my duties largely include researching, writing, editing and mailing stewardship reports. I also collaborate with my team and our campus partners on other major projects throughout the fiscal year. When I am not at the Academy, you can find me teaching high school English for a local nonprofit organization, practicing yoga, and enjoying the Seacoast area with my husband and daughter.
Ingrid Bryan
Since joining Institutional Advancement in 2004, I have had the privilege of working with a talented and dedicated group of individuals. I enjoy collaborating with campus partners with the goal of fostering lifelong connections with alumni, parents, and the greater Academy community.
As Manager of Advancement Operations, I provide leadership oversight within the team, ensuring quality of work, upholding industry best practices, and offering creative solutions to the many aspects of service the Operations team provides.
Laura Crawford
A native of Exeter and a member of the Institutional Advancement team since 2004, I’ve spent my Exeter career working in data management and currently hold the role of manager of advancement information services. I am responsible for developing strategic business process improvements, reporting and analytics solutions, and vendor and project management expertise related to the Academy’s Institutional Advancement mission. We work with a variety of software vendors to provide our colleagues with the information and tools they need to be successful.
Carol Culbertson
I am originally from the Philadelphia area but became a New England transplant in 2003 after hiking the Appalachian Trail and falling in love with New Hampshire. I have lived in Exeter since 2009 and hope to call it home for many years to come. My professional experience has been primarily with human services agencies within the nonprofit field, including operations, database management, gift recording and event planning. I was thrilled to join this community within the larger Exeter community in May 2018.
Michelle Curtin
I joined the Alumni Relations team in 2008. After earning a master’s degree in Education at Suffolk University, I worked for several years in higher education as an academic counselor, engaging with students one on one and teaching freshman seminar courses. I am passionate about the educational experience. Working in Exeter's Office of Institutional Advancement has allowed me to expand my understanding of the educational experience and discover the impact it can have on students’ lives long after they have graduated.
Ashlee Demers
After five years working for the Annual Giving team of my alma mater, Saint Anselm College, I join The Exeter Fund team in October 2021. As a Seacoast native, I am thrilled to be a part of the Exeter community and help support the mission of The Academy. Within The Exeter Fund team, I manage reunion committees for the 45th, 40th and 35th reunion classes, as well as non-reunion classes around their annual fundraising and participation goals. One of the best parts of my job is getting to work with and know the wonderful class volunteers who contribute to this important work.