Madeline Maxeiner '76
associate vice chancellor for external relations
Office of External Relations and Fund Development
320-589-6386

I oversee the four UMM units with external responsibilities: Alumni Relations, Fund Development, Special Events, and University Relations. Our overall goal in External Relations is to assure strong bonds between the campus and our extended family of alumni, friends, and parents. I also serve as chief development officer and liaison to the University of Minnesota Foundation, and oversee all aspects of donor giving, stewardship, communications, and events. As a member of the senior administrative team, I assist the chancellor in achieving UMM’s overall institutional objectives.

Janell Kolden '89
executive office and administrative specialist
Office of External Relations and Fund Development
320-589-6386

I provide clerical support to the associate vice chancellor for external relations and manage the Office of External Relations and Fund Development. When you call or visit the Office of External Relations, I am the one who picks up the phone and greets you.I also assist the director in her role as director of fund development by working closely with her and our donors as they make their way through each step of the process of turning their philanthropic wishes into reality. Assisting in the preparation of memorandums of agreement, completing the paperwork involved in establishing new funds, directing donor gift money to the University of Minnesota Foundation, ensuring that donors are acknowledged and recognized for their contributions, tracking gifts and pledges, communicating with donors about their gifts, and ensuring that donor wishes are carried out are just a few of the things I do. I am involved with the annual giving program by assisting in the development of solicitation materials, mailings, and tracking systems. I also assist with special events and fundraising efforts on or off campus.

Laura Thielke '95
executive accounts specialist
Office of External Relations and Fund Development
320-589-6494

I started working in the Offices of Fund Development and Alumni Relations as a freshman work study student in the fall of 1991. Now, I'm a principal accounts specialist working to be sure all gifts to UMM are deposited in the correct funds and helping the disciplines and departments use their gift dollars as requested by donors. I also manage Alumni Relations, Fund Development, Special Events, and University Relations office budgets. I enjoy attending the annual summer reunions for the West Central School of Agriculture alumni and participating in UMM Homecoming each fall.

Susan Schmidgall
development officer
Office of Fund Development
320-589-6160

Serving as UMM's major gifts officer is the ideal blend of my professional experience and interests, and my personal commitment to education, UMM, and my hometown of Morris. Representing an organization that I feel passionately about--through development of relationships, shared values and vision, and a secure future--is the "perfect job." With the chancellor and the associate vice chancellor for external relations, I work with donors who wish to contribute to UMM. I work closely with the External Relations staff and the University of Minnesota Foundation. I'm pleased to serve a variety of constituents--alumni, friends of the campus, faculty, staff, students, and parents --providing information about fundraising programs, planned giving, and the many ways to give to UMM. It is an honor to be entrusted with a donor's wishes and dreams, matching those wishes with UMM traditions, programs, priorities, and needs, and then serving as the steward of our donors' goals.

Carla Riley '85
director
Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving
320-589-6394

As director of the University of Minnesota, Morris Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, I provide leadership for the alumni relations program and manage the annual giving program. My responsibilities include planning and managing events, reunions, and board meetings. I also plan, organize and supervise activities related to the annual giving program. Offering guidance and assistance to the University of Minnesota, Morris Alumni Association Board of Directors as well as the U of M West Central School of Agriculture Alumni Association Board of Directors is also my responsibility.

Alisande Allaben
database manager and assistant to the director
Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving
320-589-6396

I coordinate alumni and donor information management functions, and I assist the director of alumni relations and annual giving with fundraising and alumni projects.

Erin Schellin '05
program associate
Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving
320-589-6067

I coordinate, implement, and evaluate activities related to programs in alumni relations and annual giving; specifically working with the UMM young alumni program, senior gift program, and annual senior banquet. I serve as a link to young alumni in striving to create a seamless connection between UMM students and alumni relations throughout and after their experiences on campus.

Maggie Larson '88
coordinator and LaFave House manager
Special Events
320-589-6053

I assist UMM administrators and departments plan campus events that include noncampus visitors and guests. My biggest projects are commencement and student honors and awards day, but I am actively involved in many events throughout the year making guests feel welcome and comfortable at the University of Minnesota, Morris.

Christine Mahoney
director
University Relations
320-589-6398

I'm responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive communications strategy to strengthen campus efforts in recruitment of students, faculty, and staff; fundraising; alumni, legislative, and public relations, and to advance public understanding of UMM's distinctive mission and educational excellence. I also oversee and integrate media relations, publications, and communications including constituency development and promotional efforts. I work closely with campus media services, the athletics department, and all Web site activities to create an integrated and effective program of overall campus communications within the context of UMM advancement.

Judy Korn '95
writer and editor
University Relations
320-589-6068

My writing, editing, and program responsibilities include: Profile, UMM’s alumni and friends publication; AlumNEWS, the U of M West Central School of Agriculture newsletter; Informational brochures, invitations, and programs; External Relations Web pages; and I serve as a liaison to the U of M Foundation communications department.

Judy Riley
campus communications coordinator
University Relations
320-589-6050

I coordinate the dissemination of news and public information for the Morris campus. I serve as the liaison between media representatives and the campus community. Among a variety of external relations responsibilities, I edit the Weekly Bulletin, the weekly campus newsletter. In addition, I coordinate the campus news service and schedule campus facilities for noncampus groups.