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Meet our team of extraordinary individuals who believe in the work of leadership, scholarship, service and legacy, and are fiercely committed to honoring the university’s legacy through delivering exceptional outcomes.
Angela Kaufman
-Executive Director
Angela joined the Foundation as Executive Director in 2021 and provides leadership for all aspects of the mission and organization including community engagement, donor relationships, and program delivery.
She brings 20 years’ experience working in higher education and a passion for making the college experience more affordable, accessible, and transformative. Prior to the foundation, she directed programs, served in chaplaincy roles, and held adjunct faculty positions at TCU, DePaul University, and Columbia College.
Angela received her bachelor’s degree from TCU, her master’s degree from the University of Chicago, and was ordained into ministry by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, with roots in Texas, California, and Illinois, she currently resides with her family in Washington state.
J. Gottman
-Director of Development and Alumni Engagement
A native of Hannibal, Missouri, J. has been the Director of Development & Alumni Engagement at the Legacy Foundation since May 2019. In coordination with the Executive Director, J. is responsible for annual giving, major gifts, and end-of-life gifts that help support the Foundation’s mission. J. earned his Certificate in Fundraising Management from the Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University in 2021 and his CFRE in 2023.
Prior to coming to the Legacy Foundation, J. served as Development Director for the Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt and before that served in parish ministry for 20 years in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He has a B.A. in Biology from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and a Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt University. J and his family reside in Paducah, Kentucky.
Tamela Harsha
-Program and Operations Administrator
A native of Queen City, Missouri, Tamela has served at the foundation since 2014. In her current role, she assists with administrative operations as well as with Foundation programs. She has a passion for the Foundation’s mission and a huge love for the Legacy Scholars and the Phillips alumni community.
Prior to the foundation, Tamela served in numerous financial, training, and management roles, working in leadership roles within organizations such as Bank of America and Justin Brands. She’s a lifelong learner who has pursued coursework and training opportunities throughout her career and is currently pursing coursework at Northern Oklahoma College. She also brings a longstanding commitment to volunteering in our communities round issues such as child advocacy, poverty, and animal welfare.
Cathy Worth
-Administrative and Development Associate
Cathy joined the foundation part-time in 2018 and assists with a variety of development and administrative projects. She has a passion for details and loves digging into a good research project. Prior to the foundation, Cathy worked for over 20 years in church administration and banking. A native of Enid, Cathy graduated from Pioneer High School and pursued coursework at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. In her spare time, she and her husband Tim love to spend time with their family and their dogs Woofy, Chico & Livi. They love to travel, take cruises, and explore the coastline. She loves the ocean and the beach and dreams of living near the coast one day.