Alumni Association
The Alumni Board has thirty active members and functions as the executive branch of the Alumni Association. The board currently has representation from five fraternities and three sororities and represents nine states. The members meet formally three times a year, typically September, February and May, and have several projects on which they work year-long. They are instrumental in planning Homecoming, assisting the Career Services Department in placing graduates, supporting the advancement efforts of the college, promoting alumni-student relationships and assisting with admissions efforts in their home areas.
History
The Hillsdale College Alumni Association was organized in 1865 some twenty years after the founding of the College and immediately following the Civil War in which Hillsdale students and graduates had played such an important part. All graduates of Hillsdale College, as well as all students who completed four semesters at the College, are considered members of the Association.
Mission Statement
The purpose of the Association is to organize the alumni of Hillsdale College, to promote the development and maintenance of a mutual bond between the alumni and the College, to keep the alumni fully informed of College activities and operations, to represent the alumni on matters affecting the College, to help maintain and raise the standards of the College, to aid in the enrollment of new students, to promote goodwill between the alumni and college administrators, trustees, faculty, staff and students, and to encourage all alumni to tangibly support the College to insure its growth.
Timeline of the History of the Hillsdale College Alumni Association
- The alumni first met “in convention” on June 15, 1865, to establish the “Alumni Association of Hillsdale College.”
- President Hiram Collier ’64, Secretary Laura Rowe ‘65, secretary, and Historian John J. Hopkins, ‘62, served as the first officers. Since that time, there have been more than 65 Alumni Association presidents, and it has expanded to an Alumni Executive Board of 30 members.
- The first business meeting took place on June 14, 1865, when the constitution was adopted.
- The Alumni Office’s first location was on the second floor of Knowlton Hall, known as Alumni Hall. In 1951 the Alumni Awards tradition began which continues to this day.
- In 1994 the Alumni Walk comprising about 3,900 bricks was dedicated as part of the Freedomquest Campaign.
- The Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship Endowment was established in the late 1990s. More than 60 students receive this scholarship each year. Source of information: The First One Hundred Years of Hillsdale College by Vivian Lyon Moore.
Alumni Association Board
Executive Officers
President
Erin Valdez, ’01
Vice President
Randy Keefe, ’16
Secretary
Trip Banks, ’76, PSE
Immediate Past President
Neal Cole, ’07, SC
Members
Ross Anderson, ’79, PSE
Doug Behnke, ’80, DTD
Victoria Bergen, ’11
Kelly Vear Cool, ’89, CO
Dick Danforth, ’79, DTD
Pam Foster, ’91, PBP
Ed Giles, ’88, SC
Rachel Heise Greb, ’95
Mariah Hardy-Spence, ’17, CO
Kirby Hartley, ’15
Jobi Parrish Hasse, ’93, KKG
Julie Hooton, ’80, PBP
Janice Nash Kanka, ’80, KKG
Denny Knoblock, ’76
Kim Losik, ’76
Dean Melchi, ’74, TKE
Jeff rey Meyers, ’16, DTD
Robert Neff , ’79, PSE
Brent Ogle, ’02, SC
John Rademacher, ’88, DTD
Nick Rorick, ’01, SC
Michael Ruhl, ’97, DSP
Sam Russell, ’08, DTD
Dwight Silva, ’05, SC
Andrew Szewc, ’22, ATO
Lucy Meckler Vander Laan, ’20, CO
Honorary Members
Greg McLogan, ’88, SC (Historian, non-voting)
Ronda Doane Deer, ’60, CO (Historian, non-voting)
Thelma Sim, ’57, PBP (non-voting)
Ex-Officio Members
Kerry Cummings, ’77, KKG
Dave Bahlmann, ’61, DSP
John Lauria, ’95
Jeff Loehnis, ’80
Charlie Long, ’71, TKE
Tom Martilotti, ’67
Normajean Rerucha, ’59, PBP
Brendan Ringlever, ’92, DTD
Becky Schmidt-Abel, ’77, PBP
Karin Tiettmeyer Sullivan, ’88, PBP
Ed Swanson, ’60, DSP
Bud Tishkowski, ’59, DSP
Linda Voit, ’73, PBP
Joel Schellhammer, ’01
Patti Rooney, ’77, PBP
Marianne Rotole, ’95, KKG
Staff
Executive Director of Alumni Relations
David Stanton, Ed.D., ’98, SC
Executive Director of Alumni Advancement
Colleen McGinness, ’04, PBP
Senior Director of Alumni and Athletics Marketing
Doug Goodnough, ’90, DSP
Director of Alumni Engagement
David Bassett, ’12
Director of Development for Athletics
Jeffrey S. Lantis, ’86
Associate Director of Annual Giving
Braden VanDyke, ’21
Alumni Office Manager
Danyelle Motsinger
Alumni and Athletics Marketing Manager
Jeff Masse
Young Alumni Programs Coordinator
Kaeleigh Di Cello, ’24
Faculty Liaision
Dr. Joseph Garnjobst
Professor of Classics
Joining the Alumni Board
Serving on the Alumni Board can be a busy yet fulfilling experience. Alumni board members are elected to serve up to two consecutive four-year terms, attending three meetings yearly plus hosting Homecoming. If you are interested in being considered for a seat on the board, please contact the Alumni Relations Office.
Contact Alumni Relations Office
Alumni Directory
A new online alumni directory is in the works. Look for more information soon!
Membership, Structure, and Terms of Office
The Alumni Association Board consists of 30 elected members, four of whom are officers. Members may serve for two consecutive 4-year terms. The Board meets three times per year and members may be asked, as they are available, to attend other campus and off-campus events from time to time.
The Executive Committee of the Alumni Board consists of the four officers plus the Alumni Director. Board members serve on one of the three standing committees: Business and Industry, Events ang Engagement, and Marketing and Development. Ad hoc committees are also formed from time to time to address special issues as they may arise.
In addition to the elected members of the Board, there are also several ex officio (non-voting) members consisting of former Board presidents, Alumni Office staff, faculty representatives, and other College staff from various departments with whom the Board regularly works (Career Services, Advancement, Athletics, and so on). Additional appointed alumni may serve on committees of the Board but may not vote or otherwise participate in formal Board meetings.
Apply for Membership
Any graduate of the College may apply for membership to the Alumni Association Board.
Applications are to be submitted via email to the Alumni Office at [email protected] . Board vacancies are filled via election by sitting Board members, typically at the June meeting of the Board with terms of office to begin July 1.
The deadline for submission of an application is April 1.