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Millikin University - Decatur, IL
Meet the Staff 

The mission of the alumni & development staff is to build connections between Millikin University and the widest possible audience of alumni, parents and friends. We are here to serve you!

Vice President's Team

Peg Luy '75

Vice President for Alumni and Development

Peggy Smith Luy has served as vice president for alumni and development since 1995. She is responsible for the university’s alumni programs and fundraising. She leads Millikin’s recently announced "Transform MU" capital campaign to raise $85 million by 2015. A 1975 Millikin graduate, Peg began her career at Millikin as director of alumni and parent relations in 1979. Helping people discover the joy of giving is one of her passions.

Michelle Calloway

Executive Assistant

Michelle Calloway joined the Millikin University family in 2000 and enjoys interacting with alumni and friends of the university. Michelle, her husband and son enjoy spending time together traveling, visiting family, skiing, boating and other outdoor activities.

Alumni Relations Team


Jan Devore

Director of Alumni Relations

Jan has spent the last 15 years in this position, helping to keep alumni engaged with the university through her work with the Alumni Association and regional alumni clubs and events, communicating with alumni and planning such special campus events as Homecoming. She is in her 33rd year at Millikin; during the previous 18 years, she was a member of the student development staff, eventually serving as dean of students and chief student development officer. She regularly attends campus events, is the public address announcer for the women's basketball team, and is an avid golfer and tennis player.

Tim Martin '10

Associate Director for Young Alumni Relations

Originally from Schaumburg, IL, Tim Martin began working in the Alumni and Development Office shortly after graduating from Millikin in 2010. He assists with all alumni relations activities, with special focus on alumni who graduated within the last decade. As a student, Tim was very active in Millikin’s student life and Greek community. When not in the office or at events, Tim enjoys photography, theatre and Chinese take-out.

Carla Freeman

Administrative Assistant

Carla Freeman arrived at Millikin in 1994 working in the student activities office as the campus scheduler/secretary, and now serves as an administrative assistant for alumni relations. She enjoys supporting her team in cultivating and engaging alums. Carla is a huge social media fan with amazing search-engine skills. In her off-time, she enjoys spending time with her five grandkids, mastering her foodie skills, creating mixed media art with her husband, Jerry, or mapping out adventurous trips.

Ally Staudenmaier
Student Assistant

Development Team

Dave Brandon

Director of Development

Even before joining the staff in August 1997, Dave Brandon had an interest in seeing Millikin succeed in its mission to deliver on the promise of education. His background as a television journalist provided him with the skills to share Millikin’s story, as well as listen to the stories of alumni whose lives were changed by Millikin. Dave enjoys reading, physical fitness, hunting and golf - as well as any activity that brings his family together!

Amanda Landacre Podeschi '02

Associate Director of Development

Amanda Landacre Podeschi has worked as the associate director of development since 2004; she graduated from Millikin University in 2002 and earned an M.A. in history from the University of Illinois at Springfield in 2005. She works with all aspects of the Millikin Fund, including phonathons, mailings and communication efforts. In her spare time, she is an adjunct instructor for the history department and enjoys running, biking and traveling with her husband, RJ Podeschi `02/MBA `04, MU's senior database administrator.

Donna Hyland

Administrative Assistant

Donna Hyland, a 2005 graduate of Millikin’s PACE program, joined the Alumni and Development office in 2011. She is excited about becoming part of the Millikin family and assisting with the efforts of the development team. Donna enjoys working on home improvement projects with husband, Dirk, as well as spending time with their two daughters and grandchildren.

Ashley Eiland
Student Assistant

Major Gifts and Grants Team

Anne-Marie Proske Berk '88

Director of Major Gifts

Anne-Marie Proske Berk graduated from Millikin in 1988 and pursued a year of Ph.D. studies in clinical psychology before joining the alumni and development staff in 1989. Initially hired to assist with fundraising and grants, Anne-Marie was appointed director of major gifts in 1998. Her life's calling is to forge strong and mutually beneficial philanthropic partnerships between donors and the university she loves. Outside the office, she enjoys jogging, cooking, reading, music and family time with her husband and two children.

Stacey Hubbard

Associate Director for Major Gifts

Having worked in higher education since 1991 and at Millikin since 2004, Stacey brings a breadth of experience to the major gifts team. She previously served as MU’s dean of admission and financial aid and also held various positions within the student financial aid industry. She is responsible for stewardship of Millikin’s donor-funded scholarships and works with the University’s planned giving program. She loves sharing with scholarship donors how their support directly impacts Millikin students. She and her husband, Steve Hubbard ’94, have two daughters.

Lynette Lambert

Administrative Assistant

Lynette Ann Lambert has worked at Millikin since 2008 and enjoys working in the higher education environment. She feels she is helping the Decatur community by working at Millikin. Lynette actually started helping her mother in her office when she was very young and loves the office setting. She loves to knit and crochet and enjoys teaching others to knit and crochet.

Donor Relations Team


Louise Kidd

Director of Donor Relations

Louise Kidd began her career at Millikin in 1993. Prior to that, she was executive director of the Decatur Area Arts Council. She has used her appreciation of the arts by doing such things as overseeing the Campaign for Music that raised funds to renovate and build an addition to Perkinson Music Center. She keeps her musical interests focused in activities such as Opus 24, a community choral ensemble. Louise and her husband, David Kidd ’67, have two children.

Pattie Smith-Phillips '96

Associate Director of Donor Relations

Pattie Smith-Phillips, a 1996 Millikin graduate, applied her Millikin education to the field of mental health crisis intervention prior to joining the alumni and development staff in 2007. She is proud to work at an institution that means so much to her. She also feels lucky to have made a career out of being grateful for the kindness and generosity of Millikin’s alumni and friends, saying it doesn’t get much better than that.

Carol Sampson

Associate Director of Research

Carol Sampson joined the office in 2001. She holds a B.A. in psychology and an M.S. in rehabilitation counseling. Carol oversees the research systems necessary to support the university’s fundraising efforts. Her previous 17 years of experience at several non-profit organizations has proved invaluable to her work at Millikin. Carol teaches Sunday school, serves as her church's treasurer and cares for two aging Australian cattle dogs.

Angie Hawk '06

Manager of Special Events

Angie Hawk has worked in the office since graduating from Millikin in 2006. She helps plan and coordinate Millikin events whenever and wherever they may occur, on campus or across the country. Angie enjoys a wide variety of outdoor activities.

Gayle Heneghan

Administrative Assistant

Gayle Heneghan began working in the office in 1998 when her daughter started her freshman year at Millikin. Because her husband, Mike, and their four children are all Millikin alums, Gayle believes she may be entitled to an honorary degree when she retires.

Communications and Services Team

Deb Kirchner

Director of Communications and Services

Deb has worked at Millikin since 1994 and has more than 20 years experience in marketing, communications and customer service. She currently has oversight for data management, customer service, and numerous electronic and printed communications and publications, including Millikin Quarterly magazine and the alumni and friends website. She loves how the interesting alumni stories told by her team reflect how alumni thrive after their Millikin experiences. A Central Illinois native, she and her husband, Ken, have one daughter, a Millikin senior.

 

Jake Tolbert

Associate Director of Data Management and Electronic Communications

Jake started work at Millikin in December 2010 and directly supervises the data management team members and receptionists. His job duties also include direct oversight for the office’s social media platforms. Jake brings a degree in English and creative writing to his role in the office. He has spent over half his career on a university campus, and previously worked with a religious nonprofit at the University of Arkansas. He later did marketing work for the nation’s oldest manufacturer of police radar guns. Jake is a geek at heart and enjoys computers, playing guitar and heading into the woods to go geocaching.

 

Alida Duff Sullivan

Associate Director of Communications

Alida Duff Sullivan, a 2006 Millikin graduate, joined the Alumni & Development team in January 2012. She is proud to return to her alma mater, where she currently works with the Communications & Services team to create marketing and promotional materials, including the Millikin Quarterly. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her parents, reading, and playing music with her husband, Hugh Sullivan ’06.

 

Margaret Friend

Class Notes Editor

Margaret joined the team in 2010 as a part-time class notes editor for Millikin Quarterly magazine. She has contributed to Quarterly as a writer since 2004 and enjoys interacting with alumni. She and her husband, Bill Friend ’79, have one son and three granddaughters. As a grandmother, her motto is "give them love, feed them sugar and send them home!"

 

Sherri Crook

Coordinator of Records

Sherri has worked in the office since 2000. She is currently Coordinator of Records, where she oversees an electronic constituent database and hard copy files. Sherri also shares responsibility for gift-receipting and maintaining the campaign table. When not at Millikin, she enjoys spending time with her husband and young daughter.

 

Deb Lehman '07

Data Entry Clerk

Deb has worked at Millikin since 1997 and is a graduate of Millikin’s PACE program. Deb takes care of entering address, employment and other updates from alumni and friends and loves to learn about the interesting lives of MU alumni. Central Illinois has always been her home. She loves spending time with her family and traveling.

 

Bev Kraus

Receptionist

Bev has worked at Millikin since 2005 as one of two part-time receptionists. As one of the friendly, helpful "front door" people for the office, Bev also has a reputation of being the resident information specialist and office fix-it person. Bev tries to put a smile on the face of each person she greets. A husband, three children and twin grandsons provide her with a limitless supply of adventures.

 

Carol Streckfuss

Receptionist

Carol has worked at Millikin since 2001. As one of two part-time receptionists, she has the privilege of greeting alumni visitors and callers. She is very much a people person, so she enjoys the opportunity to interact with members of the Millikin community. When she's not at Millikin, you may find her at Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM), serving as a sensory panelist.

Nicholas Burge
Student Assistant

Jackson Lewis
Intern

Julia Hesse
Student Assistant

Andrew Burge
Student Assistant

Amy Fehr
Intern

Monica Idec
Student Assistant

 
 
Millikin University - Decatur, IL
Millikin University - Decatur, IL
 
Millikin University - Decatur, IL
Millikin University - Decatur, IL
Millikin University - Decatur, IL
Millikin University - Decatur, IL