Kyle Nowels

Most people in the University of Michigan Development Community know Kyle Nowels, associate director of development for Student Life, for his collaborative spirit, infectious positivity and excellence in fundraising, which is why he was selected as this year’s recipient of The Chrissi Rawak Award for Distinction in Development.

Honoring an alum of the program who works in the fundraising profession and is doing exceptional work in the field, the award is named after Chrissi Rawak, the current director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation services at the University of Delaware and one of the visionaries behind the creation of D-SIP during her time at U-M.

Nowels, who had originally planned on attending law school to become a sports agent, was introduced to the profession he now loves through D-SIP. dsipfield

“From the moment I began as an intern with the School of Kinesiology following my sophomore year, I fell in love with the field of fundraising and the outcomes it produces,” Nowels said.

Now, as a major gifts officer in U-M’s Office of University Development, he is making a tremendous impact on the Development Community, having secured over $2.4 million for Student Life since starting in his current role. HSOS 4th of July Event

But his fundraising doesn’t end with Michigan. Inspired by the work of another alum, Nowels and two of his friends started the Harbor Springs Opportunity Scholarship in 2016, supporting graduates of his high school who need assistance with affording college.

Following in the footsteps of the award’s namesake, he leads by serving others, working to improve the lives of U-M students and the greater Michigan community. But for Nowels, it all started with his own life-changing experience as a 2011 D-SIP intern, an experience for which he says he is incredibly grateful.

“To everyone who first envisioned and designed the program, and to all who have kept it strong, including inspiring donors like the program’s fairy godmother, Molly Dobson, I just want to say thank you for changing my life and my peers for the better.”