Staff Bios

David Toll, JD is the Senior Associate Vice President of Gift Planning and Major Gifts at Drexel University. Immediately prior to joining Drexel's Institutional Advancement staff, David headed the Philadelphia regional office of Bankers Life Insurance Company, specializing in structuring complex estate plans and the transfer of family wealth. A tax, estate and development professional with more than 30 years’ experience, he has structured numerous complex gifts. David managed corporate, real estate, tax, and financing matters for closely held and family businesses, entrepreneurial individuals, nonprofit corporations, banks and governmental entities with the law firm of Fox Rothschild. He has presented on various tax and charitable topics at universities, bar associations and regional conferences. David holds a J.D. from Widener University, MBA in Marketing and Finance from Syracuse University and a B.S. in Business and Communications from Marietta College.

Grace Roth Beebe serves as Executive Director, Gift Planning. Her responsibilities include gift and document administration, stewardship, and marketing, as well as serving as a point of contact for donors and financial professionals. Grace has more than 25 years’ experience in nonprofit fundraising management, public relations and marketing at a variety of organizations in and around the local area, including the Delaware Community Foundation and Winterthur Museum, both in Wilmington, Delaware. Grace is a Certified Paralegal, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Rowan University and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Higher Education/Student Development and Affairs from Drexel University.

Julie Karavan is Director of Development in the Office of Gift Planning. Julie is a certified fundraising executive (CFRE) with a master's degree from Drexel University and more than a decade of experience in fund development, nonprofit management and communications. Julie has raised funds for federated nonprofits such as Covenant House, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Habitat for Humanity. Her higher education experience includes service on the faculty at Rutgers University and in marketing at Stockton University.

Sharon J. O'Malley, Development Associate, comes to Drexel University with over 20 years of mortgage banking experience. Previously employed at GMAC Mortgage, where she worked in Residential Sales and Marketing, and at CAPMARK, where she served as a Portfolio Manager and Reserve Specialist. Sharon has supplemented her professional experience with education in Mortgage Banking, Federal National Mortgage Association Underwriting, and Business/ Real Estate Law.