Justina Cincotti Connects Engineering Alumni From Pittsburgh to Seattle

After beginning her career working for small nonprofits in her hometown of Buffalo, Justina Cincotti took a major leap in July 2023 when she joined the Advancement team in Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering. The transition was both exciting and daunting.

Without prior experience in major gift fundraising, Cincotti suddenly found herself surrounded by world-renowned researchers, accomplished alumni and some of the brightest engineering minds in the world.

“It was definitely intimidating,” said Cincotti, whose initial role was assistant director of constituent relations. “Sometimes, you just have to be comfortable feeling like the dumbest person in the room.”

Her uncertainty quickly gave way to confidence. Cincotti has become a valued relationship builder, managing alumni engagement efforts from Pittsburgh to Seattle. She raised nearly $3 million in her first two years and recently was promoted to associate director of development. 

“Justina stepped into a newly-created role with no precedent or roadmap,” said Mara Kudrick, executive director of major gifts. “Undeterred, she approached the opportunity with enthusiasm and immediately built the foundation for her success.”

One of her signature achievements was cultivating a network of roughly 1,000 CMU alumni at Microsoft. It began when Kudrick asked her to connect with alumna Ester Bergen, a senior project manager with Microsoft’s Excel Product Group.

“We’re so lucky to have Ester,” Cincotti said. “She’s passionate about CMU and is always looking for ways to engage her colleagues.”

Working with Bergen and the alumni relations team, Cincotti helped launch the Tartans@Work networking program at Microsoft’s headquarters in Seattle. 

“Justina was instrumental in the strategic planning,” said Olivia Cerniglia, associate director of alumni and constituent engagement. “She brought patience, positivity and a consistent calm to the many moving pieces.”

Two successful in-person gatherings in Seattle drew a total of nearly 100 participants, including CMU alumnus Mark Russinovich, chief technology officer of Microsoft Azure. Microsoft employees also connect virtually with colleagues in the company’s Pittsburgh office, creating a bridge between CMU alumni on both ends of the country.

“Justina’s ability to match alumni interests with impactful opportunities has strengthened CMU’s presence within a major global employer,” said Kelly McQuoid, senior director of alumni engagement. 

Cincotti took an unconventional route to CMU. After graduating from Point Park University in 2018, she returned to Buffalo to begin her nonprofit career. She managed volunteers for the food bank and Meals on Wheels programs at FeedMore WNY and later served as foundation and events coordinator for Hospice Buffalo.

“I’ve always wanted to make a difference,” Cincotti said. “Dedication and hard work are essential in nonprofits because you wear so many different hats on small teams, figuring things out as you go. We were young and underpaid, but we never thought about stopping because the purpose was so strong."

Her time at Hospice Buffalo proved especially formative. Although she didn’t provide direct patient care, Cincotti worked closely with families and donors. One connection endured long after she left. A volunteer whose wife had received hospice services became a close friend. He and Cincotti still exchange Christmas cards.

“In those kinds of moments you realize, ‘Yes, this makes it all worth it,’” she said. “That job taught me a lot about life.”

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Cincotti returned to Pittsburgh as development coordinator for the UPMC Children's Hospital Foundation. She landed her position at CMU about a year later.

“It’s been a fantastic move,” Cincotti said. “It’s similar to my work in nonprofits, but on a much larger scale with greater opportunity. This is the first job where I can see myself still being here 10 years from now.”

Though sitting down with top executives and entrepreneurs felt intimidating at first, Cincotti quickly realized that meaningful connections rely on the same fundamental principles, regardless of titles.

“The key is listening,” she said. “At the end of the day, you can always find common ground with someone. That’s how you build trust.”