DETROIT – Wayne State University is proud to announce that Lyndsey Crum will join Wayne State University as Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations and Executive Director of the WSU Alumni Association. A nationwide search process facilitated by Talent Citizen included academic deans, university leaders, members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Alumni Relations team. Crum will begin her new role on Monday, August 19.
“Top universities prove their value by building partnerships through increased engagement with alumni audiences,” said David Ripple, vice president for development and alumni affairs and president of the WSU Foundation. “With this new appointment, Wayne State will increase its engagement and communications efforts with the university’s more than 300,000 alumni, the vast majority of whom live in Southeast Michigan.”
During her 10 years as assistant vice president for alumni and community relations at the University of Northern Colorado (UNCo), Crum helped increase and sustain alumni engagement through strategic data integration, thoughtful engagement, and innovative programming, transforming UNCo into a major workforce and talent acquisition center for the state. Prior to that, she spent seven years in advancement and communications at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and in alumni roles at the University of Denver.
Lyndsey herself is the first college graduate in her family and has a passion for alumni relations work. In addition to her BA in Political Science from UNCo, she holds a JD from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and a certificate in professional fundraising from Boston University. She has also been recognized for her leadership in higher education by being selected for the 2022-23 Fulbright Scholar International Education Administrator Program.
In this expanded role at Wayne State, Crum will provide vision and leadership for alumni programs across the university and will be responsible for strategically planning, implementing and maintaining a comprehensive range of alumni programs, communications, services and volunteer opportunities designed to enhance philanthropic support and increase alumni connections and engagement.
Their work includes supporting and activating our ambassadors and key supporters to leverage their networks and accelerate our students’ post-graduation social mobility and career choices. Together, these efforts will enhance and add value to the alumni experience while demonstrating to future students the value of a Wayne State degree.
“WSU alumni serve as important intermediaries, building partnerships with for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations that advance the university’s priorities and create opportunities for students through internships, mentoring and employment,” said Wayne State President Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy. “As we work to further support the university’s prosperity agenda and implement our College to Career initiative, I look forward to Lyndsey bringing her expertise in career preparation, external relations, communications and engagement to inspire enthusiasm among our countless alumni partners.”
