Foundation Leader
HCC VP named to national advisory council
Amanda Sbriscia, vice president of Institutional Advancement at Holyoke Community College and executive director of the HCC Foundation, has been named to the Council of Foundation Leaders for the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.
The association (AGB) provides leadership and guidance to the governing boards of its member institutions. The Council of Foundation Leaders is an advisory committee that includes foundation professionals from 25 U.S. colleges and universities.
Sbriscia is one of only two council members representing a community college and the only one from Massachusetts.
“It's an honor and a privilege to serve as a member of the Council on Foundation Leaders,” said Sbriscia. “Community colleges are hubs for educational and economic opportunity, and I commend AGB for including this voice around the table.”
The HCC Foundation became a member of AGB in 2020 to help its board of directors navigate a complex bylaw revision process.
“Since then, AGB has been an invaluable resource that has elevated our work and helped us continuously strive for excellence in board governance,” said Sbriscia. “I look forward to learning from my colleagues at other institutions of all sizes, and also hope to contribute meaningfully to help us all navigate the changing education and fundraising landscape.”
In 2023, the HCC Foundation board of directors received the AGB’s John W. Nason Award, which is given annually to foundation boards that demonstrate exceptional leadership and initiative.
Guided by AGB, the HCC Foundation recently completed an 18-month strategic planning process to ensure its alignment with HCC’s vision and priorities.
As vice president of the division of Institutional Advancement, Sbriscia oversees the offices of development, grants, alumni relations, and marketing, and serves as executive director of the HCC Foundation, the nonprofit fundraising corporation for the college. The HCC Foundation manages assets of $25.3 million, including an endowment of $18.3 million, the largest community college endowment in Massachusetts.
Sbriscia holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Cedar Crest College, a master’s degree in higher education from Drexel University, and a doctorate in education in educational leadership from Gwynedd Mercy University.
Last year, she was selected for a fellowship for aspiring college presidents by the AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance in Higher Education, a collaborative venture of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), Miami University, and AGB Search, a search firm for college and university administrators.
A native of Pennsylvania, she now resides in Granby.
PHOTO: Amanda Sbricia, vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the HCC Foundation
