Wolfenden named assistant vice president for alumni relations

	Robert W. Wolfenden

Robert W. Wolfenden has been named Lehigh University’s assistant vice president for alumni relations. He will be responsible for managing the operations and programming for the Lehigh University Alumni Association (LUAA), and more than 60,000 Lehigh graduates. He will also oversee the Lehigh Fund and other annual giving programs.
“I am humbled to lead LUAA and the Lehigh Fund—who engage and support a tremendously devoted volunteer population,” Wolfenden said. “Through them, I am confident our combined talents and visions will propel Lehigh and its ideals for decades to come.”
A retired Army officer (infantry/airborne/ranger), having served for more than 20 years, Wolfenden brings a tremendous amount of experience to LUAA and to Lehigh. He came to Lehigh in 1995 on assignment for the U.S. Army, commanding the ROTC detachment.
Upon his retirement, Wolfenden worked in the Lehigh admissions office and, since December 2001, as LUAA’s director of alumni benefits and services, where he developed several major programs centered on young alumni programming and career solutions.
Highlights include:
• Developing and conducting the first-ever Young Alumni Reunion at Lehigh in 2002—honored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) with its Gold Medal/Circle of Excellence Award 2003 for the best new Alumni Relations Program.
• Establishing a Young Alumni Council (YAC)—consisting of alumni from the past decade—and initiating a bi-monthly newsletter and Web site designed to keep young alumni connected to the university and its goals and mission.
• Developing and improving all aspects of the Career Solutions program—widely recognized as one of the top alumni relations career programs in the nation.
Wolfenden is also involved in Lehigh athletics as an assistant coach on the men’s soccer team. He earned his bachelor’s of science degree from Norwich University and a master’s of education from Providence College. He and his wife, Valerie, live in Coopersburg, Pa., and have three children.
“I am confident Bob will carry on the mission of encouraging Lehigh alumni to stay connected, engaged, and involved with their alma mater and with each other,” said Joseph P. Kender, Jr. ’87, ’93G, vice president for advancement. “He is a dedicated professional and his exceptional leadership ability will serve Lehigh University, LUAA, and the Advancement Office extremely well.”
--Duffy Ross