Gunn Appoints Senior Director of Principal & Leadership Giving

“The values and traditions of Gunn are a core part of who I am. As an alumna, I carry the lessons, spirit, and sense of place with me every day. Returning in a leadership role to help advance the school’s mission is both a professional honor and a personal privilege,” she said.

Cuello-Remley officially stepped down from the Board in June to begin her new role as of July 1. She is working closely with Chief Advancement Officer Matthew Goetting and will manage Gunn’s team of advancement professionals in the Alumni & Development Office.

“At this stage of my life, it feels like coming home. This is a unique opportunity to support a school I love. I feel deeply connected to Gunn, not only as an alumna but through my service on the Board, where I have had the chance to cultivate and steward relationships with students, families, alumni and the incredible town of Washington. Participating in events like the “Live Like Abigail” alumnae-trustee panel affirmed the strength and meaning of our shared roots. I'm inspired by how we are honoring our traditions while advancing with purpose and vision,” she said. “I look forward to living and working on campus, where I believe those personal connections will make our work even more impactful.”

Cuello-Remley brings to her role over a decade of experience in development and fundraising. For the past four years, she served as Director of Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations for the New England Innovation Academy (NEIA), a boarding and day school for students in grades 6-12 that was founded in 2020 with leadership ties to MIT. Cuello-Remley served as a relationship-builder and ambassador at NEIA, deepening ties with families and donors through in-person engagement. She designed strategic community, corporate, and postsecondary partnerships and real-world learning experiences to elevate the school’s visibility and value. 

“Building a department at a brand new school — the first of its kind, founded in human-centered design and innovation — pushed me to pursue unique and creative approaches. With no alumni base, we turned to our broader community. We had to educate people on who we were and what we stood for. In doing so, we fostered a sense of community like no other. When you ask someone to share their ideas, expertise, and passions, you create authentic engagement — and when that happens, philanthropy naturally follows,” she reflected.

From 2016-2021, Cuello-Remley served as Assistant Director of Development for the Goodnow Library Foundation in Sudbury, Massachusetts. A graduate of Trinity College, where she majored in mathematics and art history, Cuello-Remley began her career in development as a solid second act. She received her JD from the University of Connecticut School of Law and earned an advanced legal degree from the University of Puerto Rico, where she spent a year studying. After passing both the New York State and Connecticut bar exams, she clerked for Justice Robert Berdon at the Connecticut Supreme Court, and served as a Clerk of the Court in Stamford. She went on to become the youngest attorney ever appointed as a public defender in the State of Connecticut. In her role as a Deputy Assistant Public Defender, she served as the state-appointed defense attorney for criminal and juvenile cases. 

A native of Westport, Connecticut, Cuello-Remley has been living in the Boston area for over a decade where she raised her four, college-age children. She is returning to Gunn as the school is celebrating the completion of a historic, $100 million comprehensive campaign.

“Missy is committed to fostering a culture of philanthropy that is inclusive, collaborative, and focused on transformational impact. She is an incredible ambassador for our community and will play a critical role in advancing the school’s mission and long-term sustainability by cultivating meaningful philanthropic partnerships with alumni, families, students, and the Washington community,” Goetting said. “She will oversee the school’s leadership fundraising efforts, and collaborate with Head of School Emily Raudenbush Gum, the Senior Team, and key volunteers to develop engagement and fundraising strategies.”

Asked what she is looking forward to most, she said: “I’m most looking forward to being an active part of the Gunn community on campus. I'm excited to share the story of our rich traditions and the school’s upward trajectory. Gunn’s transformation is rooted in core values and love of the outdoors, while embracing innovation, citizenship, academic excellence and civic engagements. There is no better way to give back than by serving the school that helped shape me.” 
 

Below, former Head Prefects Ashleen Hay '23 and Missy Cuello-Remley '87