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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. 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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Scott McQuilkin
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
smcquilkin@whitworth.edu
Scott oversees all facets of fund-raising; donor records, stewardship and events; alumni, parent and church relations; and marketing and communications.
A 1984 alum, Scott began his career at Whitworth as head baseball coach from 1985-90 and was appointed director of athletics in 1996. During his tenure, he expanded Whitworth’s athletics program to 20 intercollegiate sports, strengthened fund-raising efforts and outreach to supporters and significantly improved facilities. A tenured professor, Scott has taught a number of courses and has been a member of the teaching team for Core 150, the first course in Whitworth’s acclaimed worldview studies program.
In fall 2009, Scott was asked to put his extensive campus and community leadership experience to work in the role of vice president for institutional advancement. "My desire is to contribute to Whitworth in a new way," he says. "I am joining a wonderful team that has done great work. In the coming years we have major projects to complete so that Whitworth can continue to build upon the educational excellence our students currently enjoy. I am looking forward to sharing that vision with long-time and new friends of the university."
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Executive Assistant to the VP for Institutional Advancement
khansen@whitworth.edu
Kathy came to Whitworth in January 2009 after 13 years at Young Life and two years at Partners International, in Spokane. She was familiar with Whitworth through the work of her husband, Tom, who served as project manager for Walker Construction on numerous Whitworth projects; these include Weyerhaeuser Hall, Duvall Hall, the Scotford Fitness Center, Boppell Hall and the softball/soccer field complex. Both of Kathy's daughters also have degrees from Whitworth. Kathy says she was drawn to work at Whitworth by the sense of community and the standard of excellence. |
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Tad Wisenor
Director of Campaign Planning
509.777.4401
twisenor@whitworth.edu
Tad was hired in late 2008 to serve as Whitworth's director of campaign planning, working with staff and volunteers to provide a framework and leadership for the university's primary fund-raising initiatives. Tad co-directed the public phase of Whitworth's Faith in the Future Campaign, which ended successfully in 2002 with donors giving $12M more than the $50M goal.
After graduating from Whitworth in 1989, Tad returned in 1992 as assistant director of admissions. He became alumni director in 1996, and was given 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 the Natsihi, Whitworth's yearbook. In 2004, Tad completed his master's degree in urban and regional planning at Eastern Washington University.
Tad loves being able to give back to the place that has given him so much; he hopes to help keep Whitworth's mission strong and vibrant for generations to come. |
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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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Joan Durkoop
Associate Director of Advancement Services
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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Nancy Kessler
Program Assistant for Special Events
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. |
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June Hanson
Assistant Director, Gift Processing 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-education setting. |
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Suzanne Sherman
Gift Processing & 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 earned her bachelor's degree in English literature from Whitworth. |
| Alumni & Parent Relations/Annual Giving |
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Aaron McMurray
Director of Alumni & Parent Relations
509.777.3730
amcmurray@whitworth.edu
Aaron directs Whitworth's alumni and parent activities, with the goal of engaging alumni and parents of current and former students with the university. He also manages annual giving and special gifts and is involved in fundraising for strategic university initiatives.
Aaron, a 1995 alum, joined Whitworth in 2008. He previously served as area director for Young Life Greater Spokane from 1997 to 2002 and regional director for Young Life Inland Northwest from 2002 to 2007. Most recently he oversaw Internet sales and information systems as a systems-support manager for DAA Northwest of Spokane, a large automobile dealers' auction business. Aaron earned a master of arts degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University in 2000 and is working to complete a Ph.D. in leadership studies from Gonzaga.
Aaron is excited for the opportunity to serve Whitworth's constituents and friends and advance the university's mission of educating minds and hearts. |
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Delynn Siemieniec
Annual Giving Specialist
509.777.4662
dsiemieniec@whitworth.edu
Delynn works with the associate director of annual giving in facilitating the success of the Whitworth Fund. She manages all aspects of the Whitworth Phonathon, including training and supervising employees, database updates, and segmentation. Apart from the Phonathon, she creates direct-mail pieces, coordinates events, and builds student and alumni awareness for giving. Delynn graduated from Whitworth in May 2008 with a B.A. in theology. As a member of the institutional-advancement team, she is excited to participate in providing others with the same educational opportunities she received at Whitworth, and to be a part of the growth and advancement of the university. |
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Elizabeth Strauch
Associate 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 building direct- mail pieces, overseeing 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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Kari Dykhouse
Assistant Director, Alumni & Parent Relations
509.777.3732
kdykhouse@whitworth.edu
Kari graduated with a bachelor's degree in education from Calvin College. After graduation, she taught seventh- and eighth-grade students in Bible and social studies at a Christian school in Grandville, Mich. From 2006-08, Kari served as resident director of Whitworth's Baldwin-Jenkins, Tiki and Akili residence halls. She received her master of education in administrative leadership degree from Whitworth before joining the alumni and parent-relations team.
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Kim Dawson
Program Coordinator, Annual Giving, Alumni, Parent & Church Relations
509.777.3772
kdawson@whitworth.edu
Kim assists alumni and parent-relations staff with programming and supports all aspects of the office. She joined the institutional-advancement team after working for 10 years with Whitworth's Off-Campus Studies Office. Previously, Kim worked for four years at Whitworth Community Presbyterian Church, where she served as assistant to current Whitworth trustee Jim Singleton, who was then WCPC's senior pastor. |
| 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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Janna Nicholson
Coordinator, Institutional Advancement
509.777.4350
jnicholson@whitworth.edu
Janna provides administrative support to the associate vice president and the director of campaign planning for institutional advancement. She joined the advancement team in August 2004, working first with the major gifts staff and more recently providing support for the vice president and director of campaign planning. Janna was attracted to Whitworth by the university's excellent reputation and by the opportunity to work in a Christian higher-education environment. |
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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 and 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. |
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Holly Norton
Director of Development, Gift Planning/Major Gifts
509.777.4362
hnorton@whitworth.edu
Holly works with donors who would like to support Whitworth through outright gifts or who would like to establish bequests, charitable trusts or gift annuities through The Whitworth Foundation. She is the key contact for Whitworth alumni and friends in the Midwest, the Southeast, and portions of California, Oregon and Washington. Prior to becoming director of development, she served as associate director of The Whitworth Foundation. Holly has more than 15 years of experience in planned giving and higher-education fund-raising. Before coming to Whitworth in 2000, she served as the director of development services at Willamette University, in Salem, Ore., and worked in the office of university relations at Gonzaga University. |
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Jaime Warfield
Assistant Director of Gift Planning
509.777.4452
jwarfield@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. Before joining the Whitworth staff in 2007, Beth held a variety of support-staff positions in pharmacy recruiting, financial planning and elementary education. As the daughter of two longtime Whitworth faculty members, Beth has long believed in Whitworth's mission to provide an education of mind and heart. |
| 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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Julie Riddle
Senior Writer for Marketing & Development
Office
of University Communications
509.777.3729
jriddle@whitworth.edu
A 1992 alumna, Julie writes content for Whitworth's print and electronic communications related to fundraising, admissions and other public-relations initiatives; she also is associate editor of Whitworth Today, the university's alumni magazine. Julie served from 1998-2008 as public information officer at Whitworth. Prior to returning to her alma mater, she worked as a reporter, freelance writer, photographer and editorial assistant for several newspapers. In August 2009, she will complete an M.F.A. degree through the Rainier Writing Workshop at Pacific Lutheran University. Julie is enthused about promoting Whitworth to donors, prospective students and their parents, alumni and other friends of the university.
University Communications Staff
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Terry Rayburn Mitchell
Senior Editor
Office
of University Communications
509.777.4326
tmitchell@whitworth.edu
Terry, who has been with Whitworth since 1983, is also an alumna of the university, from the Class of '93. She is the editor of Whitworth Today, of Whitworth President Bill Robinson's newsletter,
Of Mind & Heart, and of all other official Whitworth publications. She is also an adjunct faculty member who has been a member of the Core 150 team since 1994. As an alum, the mother of an alum (Andy Mitchell, '97, '98 MIT), and the grandmother of future alums (Kylie, '27, and Avery, '29), Terry is a strong believer in Whitworth's mission and in the university's goal of graduating men and woman who are prepared and motivated to make the world a better place.
University Communications Staff |
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Emily Proffitt
Public Information Officer
eproffitt@whitworth.edu
Emily's primary responsibilities include writing press releases, serving as the university's primary liaison with news reporters, acting as assistant editor for university publications, writing articles for the Whitworth Today alumni magazine, and managing all campus photography services. A 2005 Whitworth alumna, Emily previously worked as a reporter at the Journal of Business newspaper, in Spokane, before returning to her alma mater in 2008. She personally benefited from and strongly believes in Whitworth's mission to equip students to honor God, follow Christ and serve humanity, and she appreciates the opportunity to promote the university to media outlets, prospective students, alumni, donors and other friends of Whitworth. |
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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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