Greenville University launches new alumni organization

Published: May 02, 2023

A new organization designed to keep more Greenville University alumni engaged with the school was launched this spring. 

The GU Alumni Council, pictured below, met for the first time on March 25, with about 15 members making up its initial class. Additional classes will be added until membership approaches 100, said Dewayne Neeley, Director of Alumni and Church Relations.

Members of the new alumni council will extend the reach of the current alumni board, which has 33 members, comprised of three classes of 10 members each and three student representatives.

“The council is a subset of the alumni board,” Neeley said. “The board will do more strategic planning, while council members will serve as our ‘boots on the ground’ representatives in their geographic area. Council members will plan events and activities to better engage their fellow alums and introduce prospective students to the University.”

Tina Watterson, Coordinator of Alumni and Church Relations, said the council was the brainchild of former alumni board chair Carl Salz, who currently serves on the board’s executive committee. “He wants to see alumni engagement grow, and this council will be a great tool to accomplish that,” she said. “The council has the potential to create so much positive energy among our 14,000 alumni. We want more of them sharing the message of their experience at GU and telling others about the exciting things going on here currently.”

Members of the first class of the new council are: Bill Brinson ’90, Kelli Burdsall ’11, Jim Catanzaro ’00, Nicole Crites ’08, Kara Edwards ’99, Tim Finley ’92, Michael Gonzalez ’20, Lachelle Gordon ’99, Natty Hepburn ’19, Ruth Kinnersley ’82, Jaime Quesada ’22, Kenzie Schwab ’21, Amanda Shaw ’14, Alex Soto ’97, Jana Spencer ’74, Kathy Taylor ’89, and Heather Wiebel ’96.

The idea of creating the council was ratified by the board in 2018, but the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed implementation. Members will meet annually in March in future years. Alums interested in getting involved with the council can contact the alumni office at 618-664-7119.