1. Wittenberg advances to second tier in U.S. News' Rankings
2. New campus entrance to welcome visitors
3. Social activist leads Wittenberg Series lineup
4. College sharpens focus on crime prevention and campus safety
5. Student-teaching director tapped to lead university's alumni relations program
6. Stenberg named director of major gifts
7. University selected as model for smoke-free campus
8. Asia-Pacific security expert named Fellow
9. Renowned cancer hospital praises Wittenberg
10. Senior takes springfield community back in time

Campus Notes

Patricia Richmond Benne ’68 has been named the new director of alumni relations, Charles Dominick, vice president for university advancement, announced Aug. 20.

Benne’s appointment became effective Sept. 1. For the last 26 years, Benne has worked in Wittenberg’s education department in a number of capacities. As the director of student teaching, Benne supervised student teachers and worked with local schools in establishing a strong student-teaching program.

In recent years, Benne also served as an adjunct assistant professor in education and as director of teacher placement. In addition, Benne was a Praxis trainer for the assessment of beginning teachers for the State of Ohio.

In her new position, Benne will lead an alumni relations effort, which includes programming on and off campus for Wittenberg’s 24,000 alumni, parents and friends worldwide. She will also be working to expand and strengthen the university’s regional alumni clubs around the country.

“Pat brings to her new position a well established network of friendships and relationships with nearly four decades of alumni,” Dominick said.

“Pat’s knowledge of Wittenberg and Wittenberg alumni will enable her to take the alumni program to the next level,” added Kristy Kohl McCready, executive director for university advancement and director of campaigns.

“We have had tremendous growth in this area over the past three years, yet there is still much to be done.” Prior to teaching at Wittenberg, Benne taught primary and intermediate grades in Rochester and Cleveland, and she has been a special education tutor and substitute teacher.

In 1972, she joined her husband, Ken ’68, in returning to Wittenberg, where he is presently the dean of admission. A member of Kappa Delta sorority, Benne majored in elementary education at Wittenberg and received her M.Ed. in educational administration and supervision from the University of Dayton.

As a faculty member on campus, Benne served as the adviser to Alpha Lambda Delta, the freshmen honorary, the faculty adviser to Kappa Delta and co-chair of the Wittenberg Guild Style Show.

She and her husband have been active in both the Wittenberg and Springfield communities, and they are members of Grace Lutheran Church. Parents of three sons, they enjoy traveling, tennis, swimming, dogs and reading.

“Wittenberg is a special place for the Benne family, and this is a good time in my life to accept new challenges and responsibilities as Wittenberg’s director of alumni relations,” Benne said.

“I am excited about making many new Wittenberg friends while renewing old friendships with alumni and former students.” Benne replaces Amy Krosnosky Demchak ’92, who moved to Terre Haute, Ind. this summer when her husband accepted a faculty position at Indiana State University.