College has hired a full-time director who will focus solely on fostering the school’s relationship with its alumni.

Deleen Wills, currently director of development at Salem Academy, is the College’s new alumni director. On the job, Wills will contact as many of the school’s roughly 6,500 alumni as possible to inform them about changes on campus, build relationships, and plan events.

“We've never really had any kind of orchestrated, consistent alumni contact and connection,” said Vice President for Advancement Mike Bates. “One of the keys to success is cultivating relationships with alumni. They’re an influence, not only as parents who send their own kids as students, but also as financial supporters of their alma mater.”

Wills has 22 years of experience in this line of work. She’s helped build alumni programs at nearby Willamette University College of Law and at Salem Academy, a Christian K-12 school. Over the years, she’s found creative ways to keep alumni connected, from class reunions, faculty lectures, Homecoming, alumni weekends, travel programs, and the Alumni Center at the Academy.

At Willamette she established the alumni travel program where alumni and families did a cruise to Alaska, three trips to Oxford University in England and a trip to Washington D.C. At Salem Academy, two alumni cruises to Alaska have been offered and she also coordinated three student trips to Europe.

“The first goal at Corban is going to be friend-raising,” Wills says. “Corban has so many wonderful things occurring on campus that we’d like alumni to feel welcome and be invited. We want to get them on campus to see what’s happening here.”

As Wills finishes her contract with Salem Academy, she’s already working one day a week at Corban. She will start full-time at the college no later than July.

Fund-raising is a critical part of Corban’s future plans. The school just wrapped up a $9 million capital campaign that paid for the construction of the Psalm Performing Arts Center and a new residence hall, sweeping renovations of classrooms and offices, and expanded scholarships.

Though fund-raising is not her major responsibility at Corban, Wills is experienced in that area. At Willamette College of Law she established a class agent program, organized phon-a-thons and helped raise funds for their annual fund.  She oversees all internal and external fund-raising and coordinates Salem Academy's largest event, an annual auction that netted $70,000 last year. One of her favorite mottos is "People give to people, not paper." 

She was instrumental in bringing Cal Thomas, Ruth Graham and Judge Ken Starr to Salem for community-wide outreach and fund-raising events along with directing the public relations and marketing activities.

Wills herself is a Salem Academy graduate as are two younger brothers. Raised in Albany, she graduated from the school in 1972 and went to business school before marrying.

In 1974, she was hired as a committee staff member with the legislative counsel for the Oregon State Legislature. She worked at the capitol for a decade before taking the assistant alumni directorship at Willamette. During the 14 years of building a program from startup, Wills said she's learned valuable community-building skills.

When she's not working, Wills enjoys walking and participating in Volkswalks and helping with nonprofit community events and organizing group travel.  She and her husband Mark enjoy traveling, especially cruises.  She volunteers for Salem's Citizens Advisory Traffic Commission, is on the nominating board of the YMCA.

-- By Christena Brooks