Paige Bartels
Director of Art for Access, Senior Advisor to the President for Philanthropy and Partnerships
Paige Bartels joined Bennington College in 2004 and directed the advancement and alumni relations program until 2016, during which time the College received more than $133 million in gifts for transformative efforts such as the Center for the Advancement of Public Action, the student center, the renovation of Commons and the Barn, and expanding endowments for scholarships and operations.
From May 2016 to June 2019, Bartels served as Senior Vice President for Strategic Partnerships; she was named Senior Vice President for Strategy, Philanthropy, and Partnerships, and Secretary of the Board in June 2019. In this time she led the College’s reputational campaign, developing relationships with mission-aligned partners and stakeholders (cultural institutions, community partners, foundations, trustees, alumni, and parents) to expand the College’s network and deepen the culture of philanthropy, engagement, and innovation within that network.
Bartels led the establishment of the innovative philanthropic effort Art for Access in 2018 and a partnership with foundations on a fellowship model that expands access to field work term experiences in a range of fields. Bartels was at Bennington full time until January 2021, when she moved to a part-time role, advising on Art for Access and philanthropic strategy.