Cara Woods

Cara Woods joined Renbrook in 2021 as Director of Alumni and Development, bringing more than 20 years of experience in independent school advancement. A graduate of Amherst College with a degree in Psychology and Law, Jurisprudence & Social Thought, Cara has built a career centered on relationship-building, community engagement, and philanthropic leadership. Prior to Renbrook, she held development roles at Loomis Chaffee, New Canaan Country School, Ethel Walker, and The Cobb School, and also served as a coach, advisor, and dorm faculty member.

At Renbrook, Cara oversees all alumni engagement and development initiatives. She recently led the successful completion of Take Flight, the school’s first comprehensive capital campaign in more than 12 years. Working in close partnership with Head of School Matt Sigrist, trustees, faculty, staff, and volunteers, Cara helps motivate, educate, and inform the community about Renbrook’s philanthropic vision and priorities.

For Cara, development work is deeply personal. She believes that the heart of advancement lies in forming genuine, lasting relationships and thoughtfully connecting people’s interests and passions with opportunities to make a meaningful impact. She loves seeing how generosity strengthens every aspect of the Renbrook experience for students and families.

She also remains actively involved in student life as a soccer and basketball coach, reinforcing her connection to the community she serves. What she loves most about Renbrook is, without hesitation, the people.

When she is not at school, Cara enjoys life with her husband, their three daughters, and their Shih Tzu. She is passionate about fitness and trains regularly for HYROX competitions and triathlons. She also enjoys cooking and entertaining on weekends, exploring new restaurants and food trucks, and coaching her daughters’ lacrosse and basketball teams.