Over the past several months a new team of professionals has joined the University Relations Office at Susquehanna as the Changing Lives-Building Futures campaign gathers momentum. The primary goals for the team will be to nurture relationships with and among alumni and friends and to encourage feedback in an effort to assess and promote the goals and aspirations of the University.

Becky Bramer ’92 Deitrick, the new Director of Alumni Relations, has established two principal concentrations: 1) creating and sustaining community among alumni and 2) developing programs and opportunities that support learning and connect alumni to students. Becky will be leading a search for a new Assistant Director who will help her expand our efforts to inform and engage a broad base of alumni.

In addition, the Gift Planning office is now fully staffed with its central mission to increase the dialogue with alumni and friends about the priorities of the Changing Lives-Building Futures campaign. Doug Seaberg, Assistant Vice President for Gift Planning, is joined by Assistant Directors Kim Andretta, Carolyn Coldren and Bryan Rynearson ’82.

“We hope to have individual and small-group discussions with many alumni throughout the country,” notes Seaberg. “Every conversation is an opportunity for us to learn more from alumni about how we can strengthen the University and add value to an SU degree.”

Other additions to the team include Chris Praul ’93, Director of Advancement Services and Meagan LeBreton ‘02 Dresser, Data Researcher who will play key roles in shaping the tactical efforts of the campaign.

Lastly, the Susquehanna University Fund has gained two key members as well. Malcolm Derk ‘05 and Angela Hoot ‘00 have returned to Susquehanna as Assitant Directors of the SUF.

The Changing Lives-Building Futures campaign seeks to raise $70 million for Susquehanna and to engage more alumni and friends as advocates for the University.

Since the introduction of a brand new fundraising website this fall, Susquehanna has seen a significant bump in online giving.

Between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2006, 102 online gifts and pledges were made via the web. This compares to 139 online gifts for the 2005-2006 fiscal year, the annual cycle ending June 30, 2006.

The site offers donors the ability to not just give via credit card online, but also to pay part or all of a current pledge or create a pledge to be billed at a later date. Donors can also use a matching gift database to see if his or her company will match the donation.

To check out the features of the site, go to http://development.susqu.edu/html/now/index.html.