Philanthropic Advisor

Harvey Mudd College (HMC) is pleased to announce the appointments of Danièle Neuharth and Kaitlyn Wilson as philanthropic advisors, effective August 11, 2025. 

Neuharth and Wilson join HMC at a transformative moment, as the College embarks on implementing a new strategic plan and prepares for ambitious fundraising initiatives. As key members of the development team, they will be instrumental in discovering, qualifying, soliciting, and engaging prospective donors at major giving levels while unlocking new philanthropic opportunities across HMC’s vibrant community of alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and volunteers. 

Neuharth most recently served as a senior managing director of development for The RAND Corporation (RAND), where she led a regional team of development officers in raising major and principal gifts during RAND’s Tomorrow Demands Today campaign. In prior development roles, Neuharth established a track record of securing major and principal gifts towards ambitious fundraising goals in campaign environments for the University of Southern California (USC), Art Center College of Design, and the American Film Institute. She is a double alumna of USC, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in International Relations and French, and a Master of Arts degree at the Annenberg School of Communication Management.

Wilson joins HMC from the University of Redlands (Redlands) as a director of major gifts. She has primarily spent her career in higher education philanthropy, spanning major gifts, leadership giving, and annual campaigns. At Redlands, she collaborated with deans, campus partners, alumni, and volunteers to secure gifts supporting scholarships and academic priorities. Wilson’s previous roles include major gift positions at UC Riverside, School of Business and at UC San Diego, where she supported STEM initiatives during aspirational comprehensive campaigns, as well as building annual giving and volunteer programs for Manhattanville College. Wilson has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the College of the Holy Cross.

Harvey Mudd College is the premier liberal arts college specializing in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). HMC’s mission is to prepare engineers, scientists, and mathematicians to become leaders in their fields and understand the impact of their work on society. Students learn to problem-solve in a hands-on, collaborative environment; do research alongside outstanding faculty; and develop leadership skills to benefit an increasingly technological world. Named a top research college by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, HMC ranks No. 2 in the country for producing research doctorates per capita in science and engineering. Located in Claremont, California, Harvey Mudd College is a member of The Claremont Colleges Consortium.

Rachel Ellenport led these searches with Christina Garrison and Megan Gorman.