Purdue News
Purdue News
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April 20, 2004 Purdue Alumni Association names new executive directorWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue Alumni Association board of directors announced today (Tuesday, 4/20) that J. Todd Coleman will serve as the next executive director.
Coleman, the current executive director of the University of Missouri Alumni Association, will take office on July 1, said Tamara Morse, president of the Purdue Alumni Association's board of directors. Coleman will replace Lawrence S. Preo, who is taking early retirement after 16 years with the association. A native of Lyons, Ind., Coleman said coming to Purdue is like coming home. "I think I had my first sips of Triple XXX root beer when I was 6 months old," said Coleman, whose father was finishing his degree at Purdue when Coleman was an infant. His father earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the School of Agriculture. "I probably have 10 to 15 family members who are Purdue graduates," Coleman said. "And I attended Purdue my freshman year before changing career goals. We are definitely a Purdue family." That feeling of family is what attracted him to the position of leading the Purdue Alumni Association (PAA). "Purdue University is a great institution, and Purdue's alumni love their alma mater," Coleman said. "The Purdue Alumni Association has a strong foundation and a great reputation. It's a wonderful opportunity to come in and build on that foundation." An independent, membership-driven organization of graduates and friends, PAA has 65,000 members and provides a variety of programs and services. The association recently moved into its new home at the Dick and Sandy Dauch Alumni Center, located at 403 W. Wood St. "It was a unanimous selection by the board of directors," Morse said. "Based on his excellent track record at Missouri, the board felt he was the best fit for the association. The board has a vision for PAA, and Todd's energy can take us there." Preo, who has been PAA executive director since 1988, said, "I think the board of directors has made an outstanding choice in Todd Coleman. I have had the opportunity to work with Todd at a national level over the years, and I think he will bring great enthusiasm and expertise to the Purdue family." A 1985 graduate of Indiana State University, Coleman began his career as ISU's assistant director of admissions. He then moved into alumni relations as the assistant director of alumni affairs at Indiana State. In 1991 he became director of alumni affairs and served as its chief administrator. He remained at ISU until 1994, when he accepted the executive director position at the University of Missouri. For the past 10 years, Coleman has served as executive director of the University of Missouri Alumni Association and as associate vice chancellor for development and alumni relations, where his main responsibilities were to manage the activities and programs of the association. Under his leadership, Coleman and staff increased overall membership by 30 percent, raised $2 million for life membership endowment, increased the operating budget from $1.1 million to $3 million annually and increased the full-time staff by 50 percent. In addition, Coleman has been an active member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) since 1988. He is a current CASE trustee and alumni commission chairman and has served as a CASE faculty member at several conferences around the country. The announcement of Coleman's hiring ends a six-month search process conducted by search firm EMN/Witt/Kieffer and PAA's board of directors. Writer: Sharon Martin, (765) 494-5182, slmartin@purdue.edu Sources: Todd Coleman, (573) 882-5580, Todd@Missouri.edu Tamara Morse, (206) 484-3134, tamara@morsefinancialgroup.com
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