Alumni Blog

To the alumni community, 

I write to share a bittersweet update from the Office of Alumni Engagement. De’Andre Jones,  M.Ed. ’18, our amazing Director of Alumni Engagement, will be leaving his role effective May 1. He will be transitioning to the Charles Wright Academy (CWA) located in University Place, Washington to serve as the Director of Development.

De’Andre has been an integral part of Seattle University for eight years, beginning in 2016 when he moved to Seattle from Menomonie, Wisconsin to begin the Student Development Administration program. De’Andre has worked in several departments at SU, concluding with his current role leading the Alumni Engagement team for the past two and a half years. His leadership was crucial as we transitioned out of the pandemic and established new and successful traditions for the SU Alumni Community. 

De’Andre’s exceptional work has been seen and felt by the Seattle University community for quite a while now, but we’re not the only ones to notice. De’Andre was recently honored with the 2024 Mena Valdez Outstanding Mid-Level Professional Award, an honor given to an outstanding professional in student affairs and services with at least five years of full-time experience in the field. 

From De’Andre: 

“From the recruitment and hiring of a brand-new engagement team, the re-imagining of an entire alumni engagement program, increasing brand visibility and shifting the campus’s culture around student and alumni engagement amongst colleagues and stakeholders, I can look back and be incredibly proud of my time here. I am looking forward to this next chapter but what I will miss the most are the colleagues, students, and alumni who made my SU experience so impactful.” 

We are sad to see De’Andre go but know he will shine brightly in his new position, and we thank him for his years of dedication to our alumni community. For those who would like to share words of farewell, congratulations or fond memories, we’ve set up an online board here. 

As we continue to build relationships and grow alumni engagement in meaningful ways, we warmly encourage applications for the Director of Alumni Engagement which will be posted shortly here. If you or someone you know would be a good fit, we encourage you to apply or reach out to the alumni office at alumni@seattleu.edu.  

Sincerely, 

Ellen Whitlock Baker 
Assistant Vice President for Alumni Engagement 

Seattle University’s Day of Service is coming up on Saturday, April 13. There will be numerous sites where the Redhawk community can live out our mission of serving others and giving back to the communities we call home.

One of those sites is Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah, sponsored by the Women of SU alumni chapter for the second year in a row. Women of SU Service Chair Ellen Montanana, ’17, is excited to work with a new group of volunteers to help create a better environment for the animals and visitors.

“Day of Service is one of my favorite events because it is a chance for Redhawks from all different alumni and student groups to come together to help make our community a better place,” Montanana says.

Volunteers at the zoo may be tasked with a number of different activities to help clean up areas around the animals’ exhibits and improve the experience of visitors. Depending on weather, these tasks may include weeding, raking around the exhibits, picking up debris and assisting with landscaping. With many ways to contribute, volunteers of all interests and abilities are welcome.

“I think the best part of volunteering with Cougar Mountain Zoo is seeing all the different animals,” Montanana says. “Last year, the zoo staff did an exceptional job in teaching us about the different animals at the zoo and all the ongoing conservation efforts. This is a great learning experience for all volunteers and is proof that learning doesn't stop when you leave school!”

Last year's group of volunteers also had the opportunity to go behind the scenes to the “Tiger Tunnel” and see Taj the Tiger up close and personal. Montanana is looking forward to volunteering again and making new memories this year.

Montanana fully realizes the benefits that volunteering offers. “It brings me a lot of joy and a sense of accomplishment to give back to my community,” she says. “And it’s allowed me to make some really great friends and connections along the way.”

There are many ways to give back through Day of Service, including serving food to community members in need at Recovery Café or sorting donations for women and families experiencing homelessness at Mary’s Place. And Day of Service isn’t limited to the Seattle area. Redhawks across the country can participate at service sites in Portland, San Francisco, and Dickson, Tennessee. Check out our 10-plus service sites to find the opportunity that is right for you.

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