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Institutional Advancement Staff
Whitworth University's Institutional Advancement Team is dedicated to engaging constituents in the life of the university and in supporting its mission to provide students an education of the mind and heart. Led by Vice President Kristi Burns, Whitworth's Institutional Advancement program (PDF) includes alumni and parent relations, annual giving to The Whitworth Fund, church relations, donor stewardship, major-gift development, planned giving to The Whitworth Foundation, printing and mailing services, and university communications.
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Kristi Burns
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
509.777.4386
kburns@whitworth.edu
Building on 23 years of institutional-advancement experience, Kristi oversees the areas of annual giving; alumni, parent and church relations; university communications; The Whitworth Foundation/gift planning; major gifts/campaigns; and research and donor stewardship. Now in her 10th year at Whitworth, Kristi led the successful $60 million Faith in the Future Campaign and has strengthened and expanded the institution's fund-raising infrastructure, increased alumni engagement and giving, and enhanced constituent communications. She remains strongly committed to Whitworth's distinctive mission and warm community. |
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Janna Nicholson
Program Coordinator for the Vice President
509.777.4350
jnicholson@whitworth.edu
Janna provides administrative support to the vice president and associate vice president for Whitworth Institutional Advancement. She joined the staff in August 2004 after holding positions at several nonprofit organizations in Spokane. Most recently, she was the office manager at the local Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Janna was attracted to Whitworth by the school's excellent reputation and by the opportunity to work in a Christian higher-education environment. |
| Annual Giving, Alumni, Parent & Church Relations |
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Tad Wisenor
Director, Annual Giving, Alumni, Parent & Church Relations
509.777.4401
twisenor@whitworth.edu
Tad and his staff work to serve, to inform and to involve various constituents in the life and support of Whitworth. He oversees programs that aim to strengthen alumni, parent, church and donor connections with the university. After graduating from Whitworth in 1989, Tad returned in 1992 as assistant director of admissions, became alumni director in 1996, and added responsibility for parent relations in 2000 and annual giving and church relations in 2004. He also is an adjunct instructor in the department of communication studies, advising Natsihi, Whitworth's yearbook. Tad completed his master's degree in urban and regional planning at Eastern Washington University in June 2004. |
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Nancy Rau
Associate Director, Donor Relations and Special Events
509.777.4250
nrau@whitworth.edu
Nancy administers the major-gift stewardship and donor-recognition programs, special events, coordination of volunteers, and scholarships for the office of institutional advancement. Nancy came to Whitworth in 1987, serving in the continuing-education department and the president's office before joining the institutional- advancement team in 1999. Nancy is a 2001 graduate of the Whitworth Organizational Management Program. Nancy says Whitworth's mission has been a significant influence in helping her to achieve her goals and is something she seeks to integrate into her daily life. |
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Stephanie Rockwell
Annual Giving Specialist
509.777.4662
srockwell@whitworth.edu
Stephanie works in tandem with the assistant director of annual giving in tackling Whitworth Fund projects such as creating direct-mail pieces, coordinating events, and building student and alumni awareness for giving. She manages all aspects of the Whitworth Phonathon, including database updates, training of employees, and segmentation. Stephanie graduated from Whitworth in May 2004 with a B.A. in communication studies and from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in September 2006 with an A.A. in graphic design. Joining the institutional-advancement team in 2007, Stephanie is excited to give back to the Whitworth community and to continue to live Whitworth's mission. |
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Elizabeth Strauch
Assistant Director of Development for
Annual Giving
509.777.4769
estrauch@whitworth.edu
Elizabeth works in conjunction with the advancement staff to implement strategies to increase annual giving. Her focus is to create a culture of giving among young alumni and current students through programs that benefit The Whitworth Fund. Her work includes the building of direct mail pieces, operation of the Whitworth Phonathon, and related alumni events. Elizabeth graduated from Whitworth in May 2004 and is enjoying the opportunity to stay connected with fellow alumni while getting to know current students.
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June Hanson
Assistant Director, Gift Accounting and Information
Systems
509.777.4343
jhanson@whitworth.edu
As part of Whitworth's advancement services department, June processes
gifts to the university and supports other donor stewardship activities.
The senior member of the advancement team, she began working in I.A. in 1990. She worked in education and banking
before coming to Whitworth, attracted by the opportunity to interact
with students in a Christian educational setting. |
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Suzanne Sherman
Gift Accounting & Information Systems Specialist
509.777.3709
ssherman@whitworth.edu
Suzanne processes gift transactions and receipts for our valued donors and helps maintain our growing database of alumni, donors, friends and other constituents. She joined the department in 2007 after a distinguished stint as a student worker. Suzanne is nearing the completion of her degree in English literature at Whitworth. |
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Nancy Kessler
Special Events Assistant
509.777.3449
nkessler@whitworth.edu
Nancy assists in organizing special events and other activities to recognize and honor Whitworth's donors. She joined the department in 2006 after a long career as a public-school teacher and counselor. Nancy appreciates Whitworth's warm atmosphere and the opportunity to work with students and friends of the institution. |
| Major Gifts & Gift Planning |
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Stacey Smith
Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement
509.777.4388
skammsmith@whitworth.edu
Stacey oversees Whitworth's major-gift program, corporate and foundation
fund-raising and research. She also staffs the development committee
of the Whitworth Board of Trustees as well as the university's Technology Advisory
Committee. Prior to coming to Whitworth, Stacey worked in a variety
of institutional-advancement roles at the University of Southern California
during the silent phase and kickoff of the school's $1.2 billion
campaign. As one of many members of her family who have attended or worked for Whitworth
over the past several decades, Stacey was grateful to have the opportunity
to return to Whitworth and support its mission of educating minds
and hearts. |
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Joe Dinnison
Executive Director, The Whitworth Foundation
509.777.4363
jdinnison@whitworth.edu
Joe works with donors seeking to establish bequests, charitable trusts or gift annuities and with donors wishing to make deferred gifts of securities and real estate that benefit the university. A 1979 alum with a degree in economics, Joe served on the Whitworth Foundation board for many years prior to joining the Whitworth staff. In addition, he has worked for more than 25 years as a financial consultant and real-estate developer in Spokane. |
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Elsa Distelhorst
Director of Development, Major Gifts
509.777.4446
edistelhorst@whitworth.edu
Elsa is responsible for fund-raising with corporate, foundation and community prospects. She also works with donors and friends on the East Coast and in Hawaii, central California, western Oregon, and western Washington. She has worked at Whitworth since 1985 and has been part of the I.A. team since 1997. Her various roles have included community relations, directing non-credit programs for the community, and marketing the continuing-studies program. Before coming to Whitworth, she taught elementary school in Boston and Honolulu and then worked as a patient advocate for high-risk pediatric health services in Spokane. |
No photo available. |
Joan Durkoop
Development Coordinator for Donor and Prospect Research
509.777.4310
jdurkoop@whitworth.edu
Joan is responsible for the oversight and implementation of the research and prospect- management functions of institutional advancement to support fund-raising at Whitworth. Joan, a 1985 graduate of Eastern Washington University, previously provided prospect-research services to Gonzaga University School of Law and to the University of Idaho Foundation. Prior to her positions in the field of higher education, Joan served as the marketing- information coordinator at The Spokesman-Review and as a news producer at KHQ-TV, Channel 6, Spokane. |
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Bob Hutchinson
Director of Development, Major Gifts
509.777.4605
rhutchinson@whitworth.edu
Bob is responsible
for fund-raising for the Weyerhaeuser Center for Christian Faith &
Learning and for Whitworth's athletics program. He also is the key
contact person for donors and friends in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona;
in Colorado; in Eastern Oregon; in Idaho; in Montana; and in Texas. Hutchison, a 1985
Whitworth grad, has previously served as development director for
Boys & Girls Club of Spokane County and as senior district director
for Boy Scouts of America. |
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Holly Norton
Director of Development, Gift Planning/Major Gifts
509.777.4362
hnorton@whitworth.edu
Holly works with alumni and friends who would like to support Whitworth by establishing a charitable trust or gift annuity with The Whitworth Foundation or by donating to Whitworth in other estate plans. She also works with donors who desire to support Whitworth through current gifts. Holly has worked at Whitworth since December 2000. She previously served as director of development services at Willamette University, in Salem, Ore., and in the Office of University Relations at Gonzaga University. |
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Jaime Donaldson
Assistant Director, Gift Planning
509.777.4452
jdonaldson@whitworth.edu
Jaime assists The Whitworth Foundation in operations, marketing, reporting, record-keeping, cultivation, proposal preparation and presentation, and donor stewardship for life- income gifts, bequests and major gifts. In addition, she helps staff The Whitworth Foundation Board of Directors. Prior to serving in this position, Jaime served as the program coordinator for institutional advancement. A Whitworth employee since 2002, she graduated from Whitworth's Master of International Management Program in 2005. |
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Beth Davis
Program Coordinator, Major Gifts &
The Whitworth Foundation
509.777.4268
bdavis@whitworth.edu
Beth provides administrative support to the major-gifts and Whitworth Foundation staff. She joined the staff in January 2007 after serving as assistant to the agency manager at a financial- planning firm in Spokane. As the daughter of two longtime Whitworth faculty members, Beth has long believed in Whitworth's mission and she welcomed the opportunity to join the staff. |
| Whitworth University Communications |
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Greg Orwig
Director of Communications
509.777.4580
gorwig@whitworth.edu
Greg serves as the chief communications and marketing officer for the university, overseeing development and implementation of a comprehensive integrated-marketing program, including publications, media relations, advertising, the web, and other media, as well as printing and mailing services. Before coming to Whitworth in 1999, Greg managed media relations for the University of Washington and for Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and was a reporter for several daily newspapers. As a 1991 Whitworth alum, he relishes the opportunity to promote the institution's distinctive commitments both to open intellectual inquiry and the integration of faith and learning.
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Garrett Riddle
Associate Director, Managing Editor
Office
of University Communications
509.777.4784
griddle@whitworth.edu
As associate director and managing editor of university communications, Garrett is responsible for overseeing the university's print publications and web operations. Before coming to Whitworth in 1997, Garrett served in a series of technology-related positions at Gonzaga University; he also worked as contributing writer and editor for a variety of publications. Garrett was attracted to Whitworth because of its commitment to academic excellence and the integration of Christian faith and learning.
University Communications Staff |
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Bob Baker
Manager, Printing & Mailing Services
509.777.3788
rbaker@whitworth.edu
Bob manages the university's copy center, print shop, mail center and
campus post office. Prior to coming to Whitworth in 1995, Bob worked
for 19 years in variety of positions in the commercial and nonprofit
printing industry. He was attracted to Whitworth by the opportunity
to work in an offset-printing operation for a highly regarded Christian
organization.
Printing
& Mailing Services Staff |
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