Lindenwood Magazine - Fall 2018: Connecting to Alumni and Friends

Lindenwood University / CAMPUS NEWS SCHOOL-BASED AFFINITY GROUPS ESTABLISHED FOR ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT Lindenwood University has restructured its alumni engagement efforts with a school-based affinity group approach that allows for more direct engagement with alumni from the schools in which they earned their degrees. University Relations officers now work directly with school deans and professors to build more meaningful mutually beneficial connections with alumni. University Relations officers have offices in the same spaces as the deans and faculty members of their schools. Mark Bohr, in the lower level of Roemer Hall, is responsible for the schools of Education, Sciences, and Health Science. Bryan Stone, in the lower level of McCluer Hall, is responsible for the schools of Arts, Media, and Communications and Humanities. Matt Adams, the most recent addition to the group, is on the first floor of Harmon Hall and is responsible for the Plaster School of Business & Entrepreneurship and the School of Accelerated Degree Programs. “I want to extend a special thanks to our academic deans and our faculty for enhancing alumni engagement through our new affinity programs,” said Lindenwood University System President Michael D. Shonrock, Ph.D. The move is also part of a restructuring of the former offices of Development and Marketing and Communications, which have combined as University Relations. Lisa O’Brien Enger joined the university on Sept. 1 as vice president for university relations. She said the affinity group arrangement for alumni is a trend in higher education. “Many relationships continue over the years after graduation with our deans and faculty, who continue to provide support and personal attention to our students,” O’Brien Enger said. “It is that personal attention and encouragement that make Lindenwood unique.” Through the new affinity groups, University Relations will work with the schools to develop school-specific events for networking and continued engagement; make connections with the Career Center for student mentoring/internships/job placement; and provide opportunities for current students and recent alumni to participate in activities and on campus-wide events such as speaker series, fine arts events, and Homecoming. Through these stronger connections, the goal is that alumni will represent Lindenwood in their communities, supporting partnership programs and recruitment of future students. “We want our experience of alumni engagement to be rewarding for past, current, and future students,” O’Brien Enger said. “Reconnecting with our alumni through affinity groups is an opportunity to celebrate their achievements with them as well as to obtain feedback to ensure our programs are providing optimal experiences that lead to real success.” Joe Alsobrook Dean of Arts, Media, and Communications “ We are excited to collaborate with our affinity group to plan activities that engage ADP/LCIE alumni and current ADP students and to recruit alumni to provide experiential learning opportunities for our students.” Gina Ganahl Dean of Accelerated Degree Programs “Although the alumni affinity groups are just beginning, we already saw an increase in student attendance and participation at this year’s Homecoming.” Michael Whaley Dean of Humanities “ Our affinity group has helped to expand and personalize our alumni outreach. We are excited about the potential of the group to help us more effectively connect with our alumni and the community at large.” Anthony Scheffler Dean of Education “This is a great way to build a foundation of alumni networks that play an integral role in providing professional mentorship and a variety of internship opportunities available to our students.” Cynthia Schroeder Dean of Health Science “The new affinity group has allowed us to expand and energize our efforts in making our alumni a vital part of our strategic planning.” Roger Ellis Dean of the Plaster School of Business & Entrepreneurship “It allows us to highlight the things that they feel we have done very well in preparing them for their careers, as well as pinpoint areas where we can add to our programs to continue to address the needs of employers.” Ricardo Delgado Dean of Sciences CAMPUS NEWS ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT UPCOMING EVENTS LINDENWOOD SPORTS ALUMNI EVENTS AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES 1 Lisa O’Brien Enger has more than 20 years of senior leadership and management experience, including executive director positions at the Clayton Chamber of Commerce, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure St. Louis affiliate, and the United Soybean Board and, most recently, as chief operating officer for the United Soybean Board. She is active in the community, including as a board member of the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital Foundation Guild, and received the St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 under 40 Award in 2008. O’Brien Enger holds a Master of Arts degree in marketing and a baccalaureate degree in business management. “I am very excited about this opportunity to work with President Shonrock and the dedicated leadership team that is in place,” she said. “It is a great time to be a part of Lindenwood, and I’m looking forward to the collaboration and meeting the challenge of driving ‘Real Experience. Real Success.’” O’Brien Enger and her husband, Tom Enger, live in St. Louis County. LISA O’BRIEN ENGER NAMED VP FOR UNIVERSITY RELATIONS Alumni officer Matt Adams (right) chats with Mark Hayden (’95) , friend Amy James , and Mike Skinker (’08) at the Homecoming Alumni Village.