This is our first-ever posting of alumni classnotes. Thank you to all who contributed news and updates. Do you have news to share? Please email it to Margaret Bowden mtbowden@iupui.edu for the next posting of class notes.
Paula Allen, MA 2000
Paula has received a Human Service Professional Renewal Grant to enroll in a four week Spanish immersion program in Puebla, Mexico. She will be starting this program in January of 2004.
Constance M. Baker, R.N, Ed.D Exec MA 2000
Connie is now Director of Graduate Studies for the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. She will guide implementation of the new interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies program and provide curriculum leadership to the Center's graduate programs. She also will teach in the program, work with philanthropic studies faculty in enhancing teaching strategies, and offer leadership in developing international partnerships in philanthropy.
Jason Chandler, MA 1999
Jason recently accepted a new position at Emory University as the Director of Development for Clinical Programs. He will focus on major gifts and is located within the School of Medicine.
Tyrone Chandler, TFRS 2003
Tyrone recently accepted a new position as the Director of Community Development for the Indiana Youth Institute.
Aaron Conley, Ed.D. 1999
In April 2003, Aaron, who holds a doctoral minor in Philanthropic Studies, accepted a position with the University of Pittsburgh as the Executive Director for Development and Alumni Relations.
Mark J. Dobosz, ELI 1995
In January, Mark accepted a new position as Director of Development for The SCORE Foundation based in Washington, DC/Sarasota, FL. As the first Director of Development for the foundation, he will be responsible for establishing the first national fundraising program to support the programs and projects of the 40-year old - SCORE Association - Counselors to America's Small Business. SCORE is a volunteer network of 10,500 men and women who dedicate their time and energy to counseling future entrepreneurs and existing small business owners.
W. Frank Elston, ELI 1991
Frank Elston, CFRE, FAHP, Vice President of the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation in St. Louis, recently recieved the 2003 Outstanding Fundraising Exectutive Award from the St. Louis Regional Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. This award was presented November 14, 2003 at the chapter's 23rd annual National Philanthropy Day Celebration.
Ken Frisch, ELI 2000
Ken has recently moved to a new position with the Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
Sarah Fullum, MPA 2003
Sarah recently accepted a position as Donor Relations Officer for Planned parenthood of Greater Indiana.
Michael Gerrity, ELI 2000
Mike recently won the annual national professional paper competition for the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy. The topic of the paper is "Return on Investment in Philanthropy - What Counts". This paper will be published in Spring 2004 in the AHP's national journal and includes a cash award.
Roberta Gibboney, TFRS Alumna
Roberta recently left IU School of Nursing's development office to relocate to Memphis, Tenn., with her husband. She is now Director of Development at the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis.
Nina Gondola, MA 2002
Nina is now Director of Development and Community Programs for the International Center of Indianapolis and continues to enjoy raising two very active young boys, Shelumeil, age 10, and Timothy, age 9.
Cheryl Hall-Russell, MA/MPA 1999
Cheryl is now an adjunct professor teaching a course in Nonprofit Management at the University of Indianapolis and recently accepted a position as Assistant Vice President of Urban Services for the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis. She continues as a guest opinion columnist for the Indianapolis Star and is enjoying her 1 year-old baby girl (who dressed up as a bumble bee for Halloween this year.)
Debb Hollis, MA/MPA 2002
Debb and Jim Avery will marry in September 2004. They met thanks to the crafty match-making of classmate Laura Crum (MPA 2001) and her husband.
Aliya Khan, MA 2002
Aliya recently became the Assistant Director for the Dane Fund in Madison, Wisconsin. The Dane Fund, a community development financial institution (CDFI), is a privately funded nonprofit organization that makes low-interest loans at below-market rates to community-based organizations and community development projects in Madison (Dane County) and surrounding counties.
Rachel McIntosh, MA/MPA 2001
Rachel and her husband, Drew Blanchard, relocated to Columbus, Ohio. Rachel continues to work in community development with Local Initiatives Support Corporation in Indianapolis.
Ivana Pelnar, ELI II, 2002
On Philanthropy Day 2003, the AFP Piedmont Chapter of Centeral Virginia honored Ivana with the 2003 Fund Raising Executive Service Award. Also, her department at Sweet Briar College earned the 2003 CASE III Award of Excellence for their CD-ROM case statement, "Our Campaign for Her World."
Linh Stevens Preston, MA/MPA 2002
Linh joined United Way of Central Indiana as a Corporate Relations Associate working with their Strategic Giving Group. She also works with their Women's Initiative to engage women as philanthropists. She and her husband, Jason, have hosted an exchange student from Italy who is studying with the Center on Philanthropy. Linh serves on the Center's Curriculum and Annual Fund committees.
Carleen Rhodes, ELI 1993
Carleen is now President of the Saint Paul Foundation.
Nikki Sherck, JAF-RA VI/MPA 1998
Nikki and Thad moved to Dayton, OH, in August 2003 where he is an Intelligence Analyst at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. In June, they celebrated the birth of their second child, Caleb Grant. Caleb's older sister, Madeline, was born in April 2002. Nikki is enjoying staying home with the kids and is active planning a mission trip for her church youth group.
Tracie Smith, TRFS Certificate 2002
Tracie recently became the sole fundraiser for Peabody Retirement Community. She retains the title of Director of Donor Relations and is now in a leadership position within her department.
Bert Swanson, CFRE ELI 1995
Bert Swanson, CFRE, retired from his position as Director of Development at St. Joseph's Hospital, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, in December. He completed twelve years in that role in September, having worked in the advancement field since the mid 1960's. Before coming to the hospital, he was principal of Swanson Fund Raising Counsel, Inc., Roseville, Minnesota. While living in that state he was president of the Minnesota Chapter of AFP for two years and served on the national board for four years. Swanson will continue consulting, doing business as Organizational Advancement Services, based in Chippewa Falls. He was a founder and president of the Chippewa Valley Fund Raising Professionals, an incorporator and officer of Leave a Legacy - Chippewa Valley, Inc., and was an incorporator and is a curent officer of the Chippewa Area Community Foundation, Inc. He received the Senn Award for Leadership in a Nonprofit Organization in 2000 and the Distinguished Service Award of the United Way of Chippewa County in 2002.
Tricia Tomson, MPA 2002
Tricia accepted a position with the IU School of Medicient, office of Gift Development as the Assistant Director for Donor Rleations.
Richard Trollinger, ExMA 2002
Richard is the Vice President for College Relations at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. He was recently interviewed for an article in the December 11, 2003, Chronicle on Philanthropy .
Mark Walker, ELI 1994
Mark has been named the President of the Planed Giving Round Table of Arizona for 2003 and the World Community Service Chair for Rotary District 5510 for the next two years. He also has had an article, "The Philanthropic Quest," published in the Arizona Nonprofit Weekly News & Review .
Gina Zhang, MPA 2002
Gina recently relocated to LA and is now working at the International Medical Corps with African countries in relief and development.
Do you have news to share? Please email it to Margaret Bowden at for the next posting of class notes.
