Employee Comings and Goings: Katie Jo Walter BA ’09 Named Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement

Lewis & Clark’s new Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement Katie Jo Walter brings more than 15 years of international education and advancement experience, including over a decade of alumni and parent engagement work in both U.S. and global contexts. Most recently, she served as director of advancement and alumni relations at Woodstock School in Mussoorie, India. There, she revitalized a culture of philanthropy post-pandemic, established an alumni ambassador program in support of fundraising, admissions, and staff recruitment, and planned and facilitated alumni events online and in-person across the U.S. and in ten additional countries.

Prior to that, Katie Jo held multiple roles at the University of Oregon. She established new international alumni chapters and doubled international alumni event attendance through innovative online outreach and both online and in-person events. She also produced engaging digital content (including episodes for a CASE award-winning podcast), established an international arm of the Alumni Student Recruitment Support Team, and designed and led an immersive alumni educational tour to India.

From her time as a student at L&C, Katie Jo recalls the mentorship from former Associate Dean of Students Greg Caldwell and Professor Emeritus of International Affairs Rich Peck, among others. Their guidance empowered her to secure the Fulbright-Nehru Grant and the Kathryn Wasserman Davis 100 Projects for Peace grant. She cites classes including Dr. Robert B. Pamplin Jr. Associate Professor of History David Campion’s India in the Age of Empire and The Emergence of Modern South Asia; Professor of International Affairs, Chair of International Affairs, and Marc Messina Chair Bob Mandel’s Global Resource Dilemmas; and Professor of Rhetoric and Media Studies Mitch Reyes’ Politics of Public Memory as formative in the development of her worldviews and career trajectory.

Her participation in L&C’s India program through Overseas and Off Campus Programs, both as a student and as an alumna co-leading the program with Professor Emeritus Dell Smith and his wife Helen, was perhaps the most impactful. This experience paved the way for her Fulbright and Projects for Peace activities, as well as her MA in International Education and several years working in the design, development, and delivery of experiential educational programming in India. Katie Jo also served as an intern for the Department of Overseas and Off Campus Programs and held a short-term position as an L&C Financial Aid Advisor.

“Katie Jo’s deep expertise in engagement strategy, volunteer management, communications, and event planning will be a tremendous asset to our community,” Assistant Vice President for Engagement Stephen LeBoutillier BA ’00 said. “Please join me in giving Katie Jo a warm welcome back to Palatine Hill.”

Katie Jo took on her role as director in June, and will overlap with Emily Decker who will retire from Lewis & Clark in September.

Several people have joined our community recently, some continuing employees have taken on new roles at Lewis & Clark, and a few said a fond farewell.

New employees

Angela Aneiros, associate professor of law, Law School; Alex Dominguez, officer, Campus Safety; Hayley Hilmes, associate director of donor engagement, Annual Giving; Shanan Rosenberg, head men’s basketball coach, Physical Education and Athletics; Erin Severe, visiting assistant professor of law, Law School; Talea Simmons, senior systems engineer, Information Technology; Amy Tribulski, gifts management and database specialist, Advancement Services; Leah Valletta, EAR Admin Support, College of Arts and Sciences; Cecil VanDevender, visiting assistant professor of law, Law School; and Carson Varnum, head of education and outreach, TransActive.

Employees in a new role

Amanda Aldridge, graduate school administrative coordinator, Finance and Operations; and Fraser Morrison, men’s soccer coach, Physical Education and Athletics.

Departures

Charis Asante-Agyei, assistant professor, Entrepreneurship; Michelle Callahan, director, Health Promotion and Wellness; Terry Campos, staff attorney, National Crime Victim Law Institute; Jessica Den Houter, assistant professor of lawyering, Law School; Renato Felina, officer, Campus Safety; Jen Jacobs, associate director of Watzek Library for collections and access, Watzek Library; Jared Kasten, area director, Campus Living; Zara Kazi, assistant dean, CAS Admissions; Sarah Leclair, staff attorney, National Crime Victim Law Institute; Claudia Loeber, assistant crew coach, Physical Education and Athletics; Verlie Nelson, assistant director, Conferences and Events; Margaret Salstrom, administrative assistant V, Dean of the College; Andrea Salyer, director, Center for Social Change and Community Involvement; Teri Stoesser, financial analyst, Finance and Operations; and Jessica Sweeney, research administrator, Sponsored Research.

Retirements

Ronda MerrymanRonda Merryman, gifts management coordinator, Advancement Services.

This list of employees is provided by the Office of Human Resources, and published quarterly in The Source. Please direct inquiries to hr@lclark.edu.