Saint Viator to Welcome New Director of Alumni Relations
Saint Viator High School has announced the hiring of its new Director of Alumni Relations. A selection committee at the Arlington Heights school has chosen Chris Wells to fill the vacant position. Wells currently serves in a development position with the athletic department at the University of Michigan. A native of Mauston, Wisconsin, Wells holds an M.A. from the Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan and a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.
“I am especially pleased with our selection of Chris to fill this important position,” said Reverend Robert M. Egan, (SVHS '69) C.S.V., President of Saint Viator High School. “We interviewed a number of outstanding candidates and our selection committee gave great consideration to finding the right person for this role at Saint Viator High School.”
Wells will begin his new position on June 24th but will get a head start on preparing for the workload that awaits him in advance. “I have been extremely impressed with everyone I have met thus far and look forward to bringing my talents and energy to the job. In my research for the interview I was overwhelmed by the accomplishments of the school, and the size and dedication of alumni base. I look forward to being a part of the team that continues to develop relationships and nurture new opportunities for alumni to stay connected to the school.”
The school began a comprehensive review of all alumni related activities in 2012 and has begun developing and implementing a plan to expand opportunities for alumni involvement. “We are focused on providing opportunities for our alumni to interact with each other as well as with the current student body,” said Mary Maher, Executive Director, Office of Institutional Advancement. “We have had a successful year in defining a long-term initiative to revitalize our alumni program. We discussed all of the projects we have lined up and Chris's background and enthusiasm will allow us to begin addressing them immediately.”
Saint Viator High School celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011 and is currently targeting the expansion of the school building through a nearly completed capital campaign. It was also announced this winter that Reverend Egan will be leaving his position at the end of this fiscal year. “It is a time of significant change and growth for our community,” said Reverend Egan, “Chris's arrival comes at a time in which our need to interact with alumni, both young and old, is at a peak. The way in which we communicate is vastly different than it was even ten years ago so bringing in someone with Chris's background should help invigorate and strengthen the bonds with our alumni base.”
For more information on Saint Viator High School, visit www.saintviator.com or follow the school on Twitter @saintviatorhs. Alumni can also stay active through Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn groups.