Nicole Ferdinando joined the Pirate Blue Athletic Fund in August, 2009 as a graduate assistant and was recently elevated to the position of assistant director of athletic development in the fall of 2011.

Ferdinando's efforts are vital to the annual success Pirate Blue enjoys, as she serves in a comprehensive capacity, assisting in all facets of the fund's day-to-day operations. Chief among her current responsibilities is the solicitation of annual gifts and coordinating the distribution of member benefits to a donor base that includes over 1,200 members. Ferdinando also heads the preparation and oversees the execution of Pirate Blue functions such as golf outings and alumni events as well as directing four separate hospitality areas during all home men's basketball games.

Prior to her promotion, she served as a development associate for Pirate Blue after completing her graduate assistantship. In these previous roles, Ferdinando's duties included the construction of the Pirate Blue Donor Report, organizing the fund's Beefsteak Tip-Off dinner and coordinating the Pirate Blue Travel program. She was also in charge of managing the fund's correspondence with donors, alumni and former student athletes and maintaining its website.

Ferdinando brought extensive donor relations experience to Seton Hall, having performed similar functions for the Museums of Modern Art in New York and San Francisco.

A Staten Island native, Ferdinando earned a bachelor of arts in art history with a double minor in economics and architecture at The Catholic University of America in May, 2008. She then completed a master of arts degree in museum professions with a concentration in museum management at Seton Hall in May, 2011.