Four new staff members join alumni relations
Nov. 15, 2001
KALAMAZOO -- During the past several months, Western Michigan University's Office of Alumni Relations has hired four new staff members: Erin M. Czelada, Hardy Figueroa, Gregory Moorehead and Erin Spaulding, all of Kalamazoo.
Erin M. Czelada was appointed to fill the newly created position of coordinator of student and young alumni outreach. The WMU Alumni Association created the post to heighten its awareness among current students and to engage more young alumni in the life of the University through participation in association-sponsored programs.
In addition to developing and implementing activities and programs to accomplish those missions, Czelada is serving as advisor for the Student Alumni Association, the staff liaison to the WMU Alumni Association Board's Scholarship Committee and the coordinator of the association's Legacy Award program.
Previously, she was a staff member in WMU's Office of Admissions and Orientation, where she had been serving as coordinator of volunteer recruitment since last year. Czelada grew up in Grand Ledge, Mich., and received a bachelor of arts degree in interpersonal communication from WMU earlier this year.
Hardy Figueroa was appointed to the vacant post of assistant director of alumni relations. He, too, is a former admissions and orientation staff member, having spent the past five years there as an assistant director of admissions.
In his new position, Figueroa is providing leadership and direction for all of the WMU Alumni Association's regional outreach, working with the volunteer leaders of its in-state and out-of-state chapters to provide enhanced opportunities for alumni involvement. He also is directing the Alumni Legislative Network and Alumni Ambassador programs in partnership with the University's offices of Legislative Affairs and Admissions and Orientation.
Figueroa, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico, received a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Inter American University of Puerto Rico in 1992 and a master of arts degree in political science from Illinois State University in 1995.
Gregory Moorehead came to the Office of Alumni Relations recently, filling the vacant post of assistant director of alumni relations for constituent relations.
He is directing the WMU Alumni Association's constituent-based outreach and programming activities, primarily focusing on enhancing the University's alumni societies and developing new ones. Additionally, he is responsible for planning and directing the association's Homecoming and reunion weekend events.
A staff member at the University since 1996, Moorehead previously held positions in the Division of Multicultural Affairs, Division of Student Affairs and Center for Academic Support Programs. He grew up in Kalamazoo and has received two degrees in communication from WMU, a bachelor of arts degree in 1989 and a master of arts degree in 1993. He will receive a doctor of education degree in educational leadership from the University this coming December.
Erin Spaulding has filled the vacant post of assistant director of alumni relations for marketing. She is responsible for developing and implementing the Alumni Association's marketing and communication strategies and initiatives.
Prior to returning to campus, the WMU alumna was marketing coordinator for PHP of Southwest Michigan and IBA, a Kalamazoo-based provider of employer-sponsored group health plans. Spaulding received a bachelor of business administration degree in marketing from the University in 1997. While an undergraduate at WMU, she served as a student assistant in the alumni relations office as well as a member of the Student Alumni Association.
Media contact: Jeanne Baron, 616 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu