Development staff directory

Magnus Johnsson is senior associate vice president of presidential and university philanthropy. In this role, Magnus oversees DAR's efforts in principal giving, presidential engagement, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, leadership annual giving, and regional major gifts.

Johnsson brings 30 years of fundraising experience and has served in volunteer leadership roles as past president of the Virginia Association of Fundraising Executives and the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Central Virginia Chapter. First joining VCU in 2007 as executive director of external relations and development in the School of Education his previous work experience includes senior leadership roles at UMFS and the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg. He received his credential in 2004 as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). Magnus is also a member of the 2015 class of Leadership Metro Richmond. 

Magnus holds an M.P.A. with a focus in nonprofit management from Virginia Commonwealth University and a B.S. in public administration from James Madison University. 

Ann Deppman became assistant vice president of gift planning for VCU in 2021 after previous serving as director of gift planning for the MCV Foundation. She oversees and coordinates gift planning across the university.

Ann brings more than 13 years of leadership experience, most recently as director of gift planning for Oberlin College, where she led successful efforts to increase institutional support through outright and planned gifts.

Ann is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Middlebury College, and she earned her law degree from Vermont Law School.

Ann and her husband, Vance, have four grown sons. In their spare time, they enjoy biking and walking their two small dogs in addition to sharpening their skills as amateur home baker (Ann) and chef (Vance). They look forward to getting to know the Richmond community, especially the local restaurants and parks.
 

A member of the VCU team since 1999, Anne Hoffler has a B.A. and an M.Ed., both from the College of William & Mary. She has 25 years of experience in stewardship, donor relations and university special events.

Ariana Bracalente has been with VCU since 1987 and a part of Development and Alumni Relations team since 1998.

She has worked in corporate and foundation relations for nearly 20 years, focusing on grant development and management, identifying potential funding matches for university priorities, and building relationships with corporate and foundation partners. Her greatest joy is working with faculty and colleagues to develop and craft successful corporate and foundation proposals. She hails from the College of William and Mary but calls VCU her home team.

Chad Krouse joined VCU in 2012 as a regional major gift officer after several years of annual giving and major gift work at Hampden-Sydney College. In 2015, he was promoted to oversee VCU’s regional giving program for the university in conjunction with the Make It Real Campaign for VCU.

Krouse earned his Bachelor of Arts from Hampden-Sydney College in 2002, and a Master of Divinity from Sewanee: The University of the South in 2010. In 2018, Krouse earned his Doctor of Education in Leadership from the VCU School of Education. Krouse serves on the advisory boards for the VCU Rams in Recovery program as well as the CX Certificate program at the School of Professional and Continuing Studies at the University of Richmond. Krouse is an adjunct professor at the William & Mary School of Education and the VCU Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.

Cristina Cruz serves as the assistant director of development communications and special events at the VCU School of Dentistry. She manages the school's donor relations efforts, including alumni engagement and stewardship events, and coordinates alumni and donor communications. She has worked in development at the School of Dentistry since 2010 and has a background in public relations and event management. Cruz is a 2006 graduate of James Madison University with a B.A. in public relations and Spanish.