By: Seth Kamykowski
Photos taken and collected by Seth Kamykowski
The Development, Alumni & Parent Relations Department house is located just south of campus in the Alumni House. The mission of the department is for alumni, donors, and students to buy into giving back their time, talent, and treasure to the university.
The Development, Alumni & Parent Relations Department is one with their hand in many baskets. The Development, Alumni & Parent Relations Department is responsible for any fundraising not through the university. This includes any donations from donors or fundraising events put on by the department. Stephen Kull, the Vice President of Institutional Advancement, says the department is focused on transformational experience not only for the alumni and donors but for the students as well.
The key fundraising event for the Development, Alumni & Parent Relations Department is homecoming. They will have many events throughout the week of homecoming as well as a tailgate and event for the football game. They also have the President’s tent behind the endzone at every home football game for alumni and donors who support McKendree University. The purpose behind the events is to engage the alumni and donors with the university and to show them their philanthropy positively impacts the students as well as the university. Many donations are used to fund student scholarships.
The department can be seen only for alumni but this department has many benefits for students. They have student work available in their department and each alumnus and donor is a great network opportunity for students going into the workforce. If a student is looking for a connection into a specific job field, please go talk to the Development, Alumni & Parent Relations Department they will get you in contact with someone and give you a head start to your career.
After graduation, students can get involved by either mentoring students, talking in classes, joining the Alumni Board, or chairing an event. The Alumni Board meets four times a year as well as people employed by the department travel and meet various alumni around the nation. This department’s goal is for each alumnus, donor, and student to have a transformational experience and go to many lengths to succeed in their mission.
