Meet the Staff

Who's Who at the University of Arizona Alumni Association

Kathy Adkins manages the alumni records of the Information Systems/Records department. She has been with the alumni office since 1984. Her main focus is maintaining the data integrity of more than 225,000 alumni records.

Sarah Beaudry is Director of Communications and Editor for Alumnus magazine. She oversees all Alumni Association communications including the Web site, www.arizonaalumni.com, the Wildcat Corner Online Community, The University of Arizona Alumnus magazine, and all other written and visual communications. Formerly a coordinator for publications at the UA Athletics Department, Sarah began her tenure at the Alumni Association in May 2005. She received her BS in communications from Cornell University.

Originally from Connecticut, Mariann Blossick has lived in Arizona since 1979. She has worked at the University of Arizona since 1993. She joined the Alumni Association in 1995 as an information services specialist in Information Systems/Records.

Lori Crouch, a former Paralegal in Los Angeles, has been with The University of Arizona since 1993 in various capacities. She is currently the Administrative Associate to the Clubs Program at the UA Alumni Association, as well as being a perpetual UA student.

Penny Davis joined the Alumni Association in 2006.  She transferred from the University of Arizona, Chemistry Department.  Penny is the administrative associate for Alumni Travel and Lifelong Learning and for the Awards and Recognition program.

Faye Edmundson began working for the Alumni Association in 1988 as a data entry operator in the Information Systems/Records department. Around 1993, she moved from inputting the data to retrieving the data stored on the Alumni Association database. She makes lists, labels, and electronic files for transfer to university departments and mailhouses.

Joyce Havenga joined the UA Alumni Association in 1991. She is the lead information services specialist in Information Systems/Records.

As the executive director of the UA Hispanic Alumni, Oscar Lujan oversees year-round activities under the direction of the UAHA Board of Directors. These activities include fundraising events, club events, and a mentoring program. Most importantly, Oscar oversees the largest scholarship endowment of its kind among public universities.

Graphic Design Supervisor Jeff Neff has art-directed the award-winning Arizona Alumnus magazine since 1988. Originally from New York, Jeff was a graphic designer for major national clients on Madison Avenue. Today, Jeff puts his mark on nearly every piece that comes out of the Alumni Association — from logos and brochures to newsletters and entire marketing campaigns.

Dianah Ogden worked for Pima County Medical Assistance for three years before joining the Alumni Association Information Systems/Records department in August 2001. She is an information services specialist and says she's very happy she made the move.

Chrystean Page is the Assistant Director for Student Relations and Career Services. Since graduating from Franklin Pierce College in 2003 with a B.A. in Mass Communications, Chrystean has been working in higher education. She started at Bates College in Maine working in the Registrar’s Office. After a year she worked her way over to Alumni and Parent Programs where she was the coordinator of student programs. Just before moving to Arizona Chrystean spent a year working at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, NM as the executive assistant to the Vice President.

Nick Pierson, assistant director of alumni clubs, began working for the Alumni Association in 2005 after working as an intern for the Association during his senior year. In the past year, Nick has been the Association’s Director of Advertising and Corporate Partnerships. In that position, he has been successful in attracting significant new revenue to the Association and building strong partnerships with local and national businesses. He continues working in this area, since many of our sponsorships are in support of the Alumni Clubs’ activities and pre-game tailgates, both areas of responsibility for Nick in his new position. While a student at the UA, he was an active member of Sigma Chi, was Executive Vice President of the IFC (Inter Fraternity Council), and served as President of Order of Omega (Greek honorary) for two years. He worked as a student manager at the Student Union Gallery, and in his senior year Nick was involved with the UA Advertising Federation, where he worked on a $10 million ad campaign for Yahoo. Nick graduated in 2005 from the Eller College of Management with a double major in marketing and management and a minor in psychology.

Maria G. Plank has been an information services specialist in Information Systems/Records since April 2001. Prior to joining the Alumni Association, she worked for Pima County Medical Assistance for seven years. Maria's family moved to Tucson from El Paso when she was 2 years old.

Cheryl Plummer has been promoted to the position of Assistant Director of Homecoming & Special Events. In this position, Cheryl will be responsible for Homecoming, Reunions and other on- and off-campus alumni events needed to develop and strengthen relationships among alumni and students. Cheryl has been with the University of Arizona for a total of 10 years, the last 8 of which she has been at the Alumni Association. She has assisted with Homecoming and Special Events for 6 years. For the last 2 years, she has been the Administrative Associate for the CFO/Vice-President.

Before joining the Alumni Association, Jennifer Rich worked at the UA Extended University where she was involved in many aspects of lifelong education, including the Elderhostel program. She also worked for alternative transportation, a division of UA Parking and Transportation Services. Today, she is the associate editor for the UA Alumni Association Alumnus magazine, and writes citations for the Alumni Awards and Recognition program.

Allison Riggle joined the Alumni Association staff in May, 2006, and is the program coordinator in the membership department. Allison moved to Tucson from Ohio in January 2005, fulfilling a long-held dream to move to Arizona. Allison enjoys cooking, visiting local Tucson attractions such as the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum and Tucson Zoo, and spending time with friends and family here. And while she thoroughly enjoys the winter experience in Tucson, Allison does miss the fall foliage and the crisp, white new snowfall of an Ohio fall and winter season.

Rhonda Rugg is originally from Pennsylvania and received her degree in Accounting from Grove City College. She moved to Tucson in 1991. For the past 4 years, she was the Director of Finance with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. Her husband works at the TSO, and their teenage daughter is looking forward to being a student at the UA. Rhonda has three cats that "own me rather than the other way around." She's a Deputy Commissioner for the Clan Campbell Society here in Arizona, and just for fun has started learning to speak Scottish Gaelic.

Joan Stone is the administrative associate to Christopher J. Vlahos, the president of the Alumni Association. Joan has been with the University of Arizona since 1996, when she began working in the Women's Studies Department as an administrative assistant. She joined the Alumni Association team in 1999. She is the secretary to the UA Alumni Association National Board of Directors.

Mark Strickling is the Regional Director of the Phoenix Alumni Regional Office. Mark is in charge of overseeing the University of Arizona Alumni Association's four Alumni Chapters, three Alumni Clubs and one Council, while developing activities in Maricopa County and Northern Arizona. As a student at the University of Arizona, Mark was an Arizona Ambassador, an Eller's School of Management Student Success Committee Member and a Football player. He has the honor of being a part of the 1994 Co-Pac-10 Championship Fiesta Bowl team, Desert Swarm. Mark, a two-year letterman, graduated from the UA in 1994 with a degree in Marketing from the Eller School of Management. Mark is also a graduate of the University of Phoenix where he earned a Masters in Business Administration and completed post secondary course work in education. Mark is married to Teresa (UA Alum) and they have two children.

Lisa Valentine is the assistant director of alumni travel. At the Association, Lisa has worked as an administrative associate for Homecoming, special events, student relations and young alumni. Before joining the Alumni Association in July 2005, Lisa worked for Arizona Athletics for nine years in various departments, and as assistant director of trademarks and licensing for the University. Lisa graduated from the UA with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports sciences and a master's degree in sports administration. Lisa also received a master's degree from NAU in counseling in 2002.

Christopher J. Vlahos, president and executive director of the University of Arizona Alumni Association, began his tenure July 16, 2007. Vlahos is responsible for working with the Association’s Board of Directors to develop and implement a strategic plan and he oversees the Association’s operations and fund raising. He will strengthen collaboration with the University to engage and support its alumni, ensuring that the Association is a viable and important gateway to the University. (read more)

Nancy Daru Yaeli, a Vice President of the Association, oversees the Association's college relations and constituent programs, including both geographic and multicultural alumni groups. She graduated in 1976 from the UA and has a J.D. from Loyola Law School Los Angeles. Her personal philosophy is: "UA alumni — regardless of where they live or what they do — have many chances to maintain a lifelong relationship with their alma mater. Everyone's involvement is welcome!"