Two staff members have joined Alumni & Development Programs. They are Susan Plassmeyer in the new position of executive director of administration, and Gary Kornell as senior director of development for Arts & Sciences.
Plassmeyer’s main responsibility is to serve as chief administrative officer for Alumni & Development Programs.
As such, she joined the senior staff of David T. Blasingame, executive vice chancellor for Alumni & Development Programs, and will manage and coordinate the business aspects of the department’s operations, including overseeing and monitoring budgets, managing facilities where alumni and development staff work and developing and overseeing a Technology Advisory Committee.
In addition, she will supervise the organizational development and training of the department and will be charged with developing and managing new initiatives, such as mentoring and internship programs.
“Susan brings an impressive background of administrative management to Washington University, and I know her expertise will be invaluable in helping us develop the administrative systems and procedures needed to enhance the work of our alumni and development team,” Blasingame said.
Her extensive background covers a range of management experience. Plassmeyer held positions at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) that included executive vice president, chief of staff for its president and general manager of its real estate department.
Prior to joining the CTA, she served as assistant vice president for corporate and community affairs at The First National Bank of Chicago, as director of marketing and operations at the Environmental Law & Policy Center’s Chicago office and as director of planning and budget for administration and as interim director of the human resources department at the University of Chicago.
Plassmeyer earned a bachelor’s degree from Northeast Missouri State University, now Truman State University, in 1986 and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago in 1990.
Kornell, formerly vice president for university advancement at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, has joined the senior staff of Pamella A. Henson, associate vice chancellor for Alumni & Development Programs.
In this role, he is responsible for providing fund-raising leadership for the College of Arts & Sciences.
He also oversees the development and implementation of programs designed to engage Arts & Sciences alumni and friends, as well as increase support for Arts & Sciences priorities, including scholarships, research, faculty programs and facilities.
In addition, he oversees development activities for University Libraries and University College.
Kornell’s position formerly was held by interim director Jim Hamlin, who has returned to his permanent post as executive director of scholarship support.
“Gary has a highly successful track record in development, and was personally responsible for attracting Nebraska Wesleyan University’s largest gift. I am confident he will provide excellent direction for Arts & Sciences in the years to come,” Blasingame said.
At Nebraska Wesleyan, Kornell developed a major gifts program, tripled the number of seven-figure current gifts, quadrupled board giving and put together the first faculty-staff campaign that enjoyed an 81 percent participation rate.
And as a former pastor for the Old Stone Church in Cleveland, Kornell managed a campaign that raised more than $2.3 million, implemented a new planned giving program and managed a successful annual giving program.
He has a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University (’67), a master of divinity degree from Vanderbilt University (’71) and a doctor of ministry degree from Drew Theological School (’86).