Army West Point Athletics
Donohue to Lead Revamped Athletics Development Team
March 26, 2025 | A Club
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army West Point Director of Athletics Tom Theodorakis, in partnership with West Point Association of Graduates Vice President of Development Kristin Sorenson, has announced the promotion of Steven Donohue to Associate Athletics Director, Development.
In this role, Donohue will lead the department's fundraising efforts as part of the $600 million academy-wide West Point Ready Campaign, including the Michie Stadium Preservation Project, the Army A Club annual fund, and restricted sport-specific philanthropy. Donohue will serve as a member of the Athletics Director's Executive Staff and the WPAOG's Development Senior Staff.
"Steven has led a resurgence in our fundraising efforts these past few years and has a proven track record in the industry," said Theodorakis. "His leadership in this role will be critical as we continue providing the best resources for our cadet-athletes."
Donohue is entering his 12th year in college athletics administration, rejoining Army West Point Athletics in March 2022 as the Assistant Athletics Director, Major Gifts. In 2024, the team raised over $16 million: more than $9 million to the Army A Club and $5 million to Sport Specific Giving - both record highs. Prior to his return to West Point, he served as Assistant Athletics Director, Development at Northern Illinois University. At NIU, Donohue oversaw the Huskie Athletic Fund and led fundraising efforts for the 2021 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Champion Huskies football program. Prior to his time at NIU, Donohue served as the Assistant Director of Development & Premium Seating at Purdue University. During his time in the Big Ten Conference, he oversaw premium seating for football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, and softball. Donohue also helped develop a comprehensive premium seating strategy for the Ross-Ade Stadium Project. Before Purdue, Donohue was a part of the Army West Point Athletics Department serving in various revenue-generating roles with the Army A Club and Army Ticket Office.
"I would like to thank Tom and Kristin for the opportunity to lead our immensely talented Athletics Development team," Donohue said. "When my wife Laurie and I had the chance to return to West Point three years ago, we jumped at the opportunity, understanding what a special place this is. There is palpable momentum within Army West Point Athletics and I look forward to continuing to serve our cadet-athletes by further strengthening the connection with the Long Gray Line."
In concert with AWPAA and WPAOG, Donohue has announced three promotions and one new hire on the athletics development team: "As we continue into this next era of Army West Point Athletics, it is critical that we retain and hire talented teammates. Andrew, Abbie, and Ryenne have proven to be rising stars in the industry and have earned the added leadership responsibilities we will ask of them moving forward. Additionally, we are excited to welcome Emilia to our team and know she will work tirelessly to improve our operation."
Hirings and promotions include:
In this role, Donohue will lead the department's fundraising efforts as part of the $600 million academy-wide West Point Ready Campaign, including the Michie Stadium Preservation Project, the Army A Club annual fund, and restricted sport-specific philanthropy. Donohue will serve as a member of the Athletics Director's Executive Staff and the WPAOG's Development Senior Staff.
"Steven has led a resurgence in our fundraising efforts these past few years and has a proven track record in the industry," said Theodorakis. "His leadership in this role will be critical as we continue providing the best resources for our cadet-athletes."
Donohue is entering his 12th year in college athletics administration, rejoining Army West Point Athletics in March 2022 as the Assistant Athletics Director, Major Gifts. In 2024, the team raised over $16 million: more than $9 million to the Army A Club and $5 million to Sport Specific Giving - both record highs. Prior to his return to West Point, he served as Assistant Athletics Director, Development at Northern Illinois University. At NIU, Donohue oversaw the Huskie Athletic Fund and led fundraising efforts for the 2021 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Champion Huskies football program. Prior to his time at NIU, Donohue served as the Assistant Director of Development & Premium Seating at Purdue University. During his time in the Big Ten Conference, he oversaw premium seating for football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, and softball. Donohue also helped develop a comprehensive premium seating strategy for the Ross-Ade Stadium Project. Before Purdue, Donohue was a part of the Army West Point Athletics Department serving in various revenue-generating roles with the Army A Club and Army Ticket Office.
"I would like to thank Tom and Kristin for the opportunity to lead our immensely talented Athletics Development team," Donohue said. "When my wife Laurie and I had the chance to return to West Point three years ago, we jumped at the opportunity, understanding what a special place this is. There is palpable momentum within Army West Point Athletics and I look forward to continuing to serve our cadet-athletes by further strengthening the connection with the Long Gray Line."
In concert with AWPAA and WPAOG, Donohue has announced three promotions and one new hire on the athletics development team: "As we continue into this next era of Army West Point Athletics, it is critical that we retain and hire talented teammates. Andrew, Abbie, and Ryenne have proven to be rising stars in the industry and have earned the added leadership responsibilities we will ask of them moving forward. Additionally, we are excited to welcome Emilia to our team and know she will work tirelessly to improve our operation."
Hirings and promotions include:
- Andrew Sahawneh – Assistant Athletics Director, Major & Sport-Specific Giving
- Sahawneh is responsible for actively developing and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy with a focus on maximizing restricted sport-specific support while ensuring alignment with AWPAA, WPAOG, and USMA priorities. Sahawneh is tasked with leading collaboration with head coaches, sports administrators, gift officers, and volunteer alumni. In addition, Sahawneh will serve as a primary manager for a portfolio of major gift donors.
- Sahawneh most recently served as the Director, Sport Specific Giving. His leadership in this space helped set record highs in sport-specific funding in 2024, including more than $2 million on Army West Point Athletics Giving Day. Sahawneh joined Army West Point Athletics in August 2022, serving as the Senior Director of Marketing & Fan Engagement. Previous stops include St. Peter's University and Marist College.
- Sahawneh graduated from Marist College in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing. He is a native of Poughkeepsie, NY and currently resides in Beacon, NY.
- Abbie Griffiths – Associate Director, Army A Club
- Griffiths will manage a portfolio of VIP Army A Club members, working to grow unrestricted philanthropic support of our cadet-athletes.
- Griffiths joined Army West Point Athletics in June of 2023 as Assistant Director, Army A Club. Prior to Army, Griffiths spent three years working in Purdue University's athletic department in the John Purdue Club. She worked on the More Than a Game Campaign focused on the budget shortfall Purdue Athletics faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, she helped with a wide variety of donor events, including travel with the men's basketball team.
- Griffiths graduated from Purdue University in May 2023, earning two bachelor's degrees in marketing and general management. She was born and raised in Northern Indiana and now resides in Wappingers Falls, NY.
- Ryenne Scott – Associate Director, Army A Club
- Scott will manage a portfolio of VIP Army A Club members, working to grow unrestricted philanthropic support of our cadet-athletes.
- Scott joined Army West Point Athletics in June 2023 as Assistant Director, Army A Club. Prior to Army, Scott worked in fundraising at Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh, NY.
- Scott graduated with a master's degree in business administration from North Carolina A&T University. She earned a bachelor's degree in strategic communications from Hampton University. Scott is a native of Newburgh, NY where she currently resides.
- Emilia Cappellett – Assistant Director, Army A Club
- Cappellett will manage a portfolio of Army A Club members and season ticket holders, working to grow unrestricted philanthropic support of our cadet-athletes.
- Cappellett graduated from Elon University in May 2024, earning a bachelor's degree in sport management with minors in business administration, communications, and professional sales. While at Elon, she was a four-year NCAA Division I student-athlete on the women's soccer team and gained two years of collegiate athletics experience as a Marketing Assistant for Elon Athletics. Additionally, Emilia held leadership roles on campus including as a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative and Mental Health Committee chair. She further expanded her experience interning with Major League Baseball in their marketing operations department.
- Originally from Binghamton, NY Cappellett currently resides in Beacon, NY.
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