University Advancement Welcomes New Team Members
Representing several areas on campus
The Office of University Advancement at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ has welcomed several new employees to its team over the past year. The team members represent several areas on campus, including the Office of Alumni Services, the Office of Development and the Office of Planned Giving & Trust Services.
Office of University Advancement
Miriam Taylor serves as the University’s new advancement event planner. In her role, she is responsible for organizing details and logistics related to Homecoming, regional alumni events, the President’s Council and other activities planned by University Advancement.
A certified meeting professional, Taylor holds a master’s degree in human resource management and development from the University of Salford. Most recently, she served as community development coordinator and event planner for Hope Channel international and, before that, as executive assistant and associate meeting planner for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Taylor most looks forward to getting to know the faculty, staff, students and alumni of Andrews. She affirms, “I would love for everyone engaging with us, either here on campus or through other off-campus activities, to feel that they are part of our family.”
Maxine Umana brings a wealth of institutional knowledge and relationship-building experience to her new role as engagement officer. A proud double alumna of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ with degrees in personal ministries and religion, she has served the Andrews community for over eleven years, including two years as administrative assistant, librarian and contract teacher at Andrews Academy and nine years as administrative assistant and recruiter for the J.N. Andrews Honors Program.
Umana coordinates social media and other forms of communication for the four offices within University Advancement, sharing their stories with alumni, constituents and friends of the University. She ensures branding consistency, advocates for her team members and empowers effective communication.
“In this role, I help tell the bigger picture about Andrews. It has to do with the future of the University,” she shares. “I’m seeing the importance of these offices and how their work makes a difference—through maintaining relationships and how interconnected they are. I’m glad I’m able to help out in a bigger way.”
Office of Alumni Services
As the new director of Alumni Services, Jeana Wallin serves as an ambassador for ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. In this key position, she develops, coordinates and directs activities for Andrews alumni. She shares that she hopes to bring “fresh outlook and ideas from past experiences as an ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ student and current alumnus” to the role.
Wallin graduated from Andrews with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and a minor in general studies. She went on to gain valuable work experience as an outreach specialist, marketing specialist, manager, event planner, consultant, client relations professional and registrar. “I have acquired skills from all past working experiences that I will be able to incorporate into this new position as director of Alumni Services,” she says.
“God’s direction and leading” brought Wallin back to serve at Andrews, and she most looks forward to “connecting and engaging with past and present students, because they are our future.” She is excited to embark on this new journey at Andrews with her family, and she places God at the center of her new role.
Office of Development
Steven Manoukian oversees his team as director of Development. Passionate about people, culture and missions, he carries out various duties for the office, including administrative work, strategizing, meeting with donors and overseeing annual fundraising campaigns.
Manoukian holds bachelor's degrees in business administration and theology from Middle East University and a master’s degree from Newbold University. Drawn to serving the worldwide Adventist church through the diverse student body at Andrews, he brings experience in the pastoral, missions and administrative fields to his role. His vision for the future includes updating campus buildings, supporting a self-sufficient University endowment and seeing Andrews become a leader in world missions.
He has enjoyed the kindness of his colleagues, the beauty of the seasons and the creativity of the campus. “I have worked in many parts of the world and Andrews has been one of those places where Seventh-day Adventist values are upheld and Jesus is shared on campus,” Manoukian notes. “I hope people from all over the world … will know how much Andrews is invested in the mission and the values of the Seventh-day Adventist church.”
Esther Penn, gift records associate, works to accurately record, update and maintain donor contributions in the University’s database. She ensures the integrity of gift data and supports the timely acknowledgement of donors. Penn notes that she has enjoyed “being part of a mission-driven environment where every gift supports education and research.” She adds, “I’ve found it especially rewarding to contribute behind the scenes to meaningful donor relationships and long-term institutional impact.”
Born and raised in Berrien Springs, Michigan, Penn worked at Hinsdale Hospital in Illinois after completing her education. She went on to live in several places across the United States while raising her two sons, before becoming part of the Andrews community in 2014.
“In the future, I hope to continue strengthening the accuracy and efficiency of our gift processing systems to better support the University’s fundraising goals,” Penn says. “I also look forward to contributing to a collaborative community that values continuous improvement and shared success.”
Responsible for conducting research and analyzing data to support the efforts of major gifts officers, Hayden Baldwin, prospect management officer, plays a key role in the Office of Development. He works closely with the Advancement team, helping connect alumni and donors with their goals and vision for Andrews.
Originally from Arizona, Baldwin graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science from ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. Before his current role, he gained important skills working for the Office of Information Technology Services and Office of Alumni Services, providing technology support, contributing to the documentation of internal processes and developing custom digital signage solutions.
Baldwin has enjoyed being surrounded by a team of “great people” while working at Andrews. He shares, “My colleagues have always been hard-working and dedicated to the mission of Andrews. Perhaps even more important, they are dedicated to surrendering to God’s will in their lives.”
Office of Planned Giving & Trust Services
Director of Planned Giving & Trust Services Cindy Hill looks forward to helping individuals and families discover and articulate their legacy, while fostering a culture of generosity within the Andrews campus and community. “Partnering with donors that wish to leave a lasting legacy and impact students in their journey to find their purpose and serve faithfully is both fulfilling and rewarding,” she shares.
Hill holds a degree in accounting and business management as well as a Certified Specialist in Planned Giving professional designation. She previously served as financial analyst and controller for AdventHealth, financial services professional with Prudential Financial, account and project manager for a boutique estate planning firm in Atlanta, and assistant director for Planned Giving & Trust Services at Andrews.
“It is a joy to work for a higher education institution that values strong academics but also prepares students to serve their communities with excellence, compassion and vision—within the context of a Seventh-day Adventist Christian worldview,” she says.
PR
pr@andrews.edu
