A New Constellation

PRESIDENT MELISSA SHERER ’18

“Things just come together and work out at Graceland,” Sherer says, and it’s been a kind of guiding principle in a lifelong bond that began with her Iowan dad and Canadian mom meeting at Graceland. The Graceland stories she heard growing up shaped her, and a summer at the Community of Christ Spectacular solidified her decision to pursue college on “the Hill.” In Business and English, she found the perfect combination of majors, and in her activities in the Honors program and student government, for her house (Aponivi forever!) and Enactus, she developed her leadership skills.

When she graduated and started navigating the professional world, she felt lost at first, but again, Graceland ties led her way: “I will forever be grateful,” she says of the alumni network through which she secured her first job. With her engagement in the Alumni Board’s GU4U Committee that links students and alumni for career orientation and opportunities, she put her appreciation into action.

Her passion for bringing people together to create synergies continues on as Alumni Board President, a role which she considers a calling more than simply an appointment. “I wouldn’t have taken it on without knowing great people like Alex and Cathy are at my side,” she emphasizes, and highlights the power package of the complementary interests and skills across the Board.

Sherer sees Graceland at a point of promising momentum, with the best people in the right position to maximize its potential. She is excited for the Alumni Board teams to support this trajectory: by enabling the university leadership’s strategic targets, recognizing Graceland’s excellent faculty, ensuring that alumni feel connected with their alma mater no matter where they are in life and in the world, and helping graduates find their place in it.

VICE PRESIDENT ALEX CARR ’15

Graceland is home for the Lamoni native and legacy alumnus Carr (Orion forever!); he always knew he wanted to return to his alma mater in some form or function. “Everything wonderful that I have in my life is a result of my time at Graceland,” he explains the impetus for reconnecting with Graceland after career stops in academia, the military, and business. Now he gets to visit campus regularly — and, in his Alumni Board Vice President role, fulfill the inspirational quote he walked by in Graybill Hall every workday as hall director:

“You come to learn, go forth and serve.”

As a financial planner, his specialist interest lies in all things institutional advancement, but like Melissa, he maintains a special place in his heart for the GU4U initiative, enjoying the lively coffee talks, workshops, and classroom visits. Just as these activities serve students and recent graduates by showing them what all is possible after graduation, it gives alumni many welcome opportunities to return as guest lecturers or event speakers, and extend their expert knowledge, mentorship, or professional development guidance.

With the Alumni Board teams, Carr looks forward to developing the GU4U platform further, increasing the number of applicants for the Alumni Endowed Scholarship, getting more high school kids to fall in love with Graceland just as he did (he also fell in love at Graceland, with his wife Julia Austin ’20 Carr), and building old and new legacy relationships. Carr sees his job very practically in “making sure that the trains run on time.” On a broader scale, he hopes to lay down solid tracks for the sustainable success of the Alumni Board: through systems and processes that last longer than individual office holders do — a smart tactical move to position Graceland with an edge in the competitive environment of higher education.

SECRETARY & TREASURER CATHY WOLFE ’88 LYSINGER

As Sherer and Carr settle into their first presidential and vice presidential terms, Lysinger’s got their backs. She’s a true veteran; in her sixth year, she is marking her fourth and final Alumni Board term — and there to support their vision and leadership. With her family background of wide-reaching Graceland legacy roots, she is a valuable resource on Graceland matters, projects, and people, as well as the formal nuts and bolts. She enjoys being a part of Graceland, and doing her part for the University’s progress by actively and directly asking the administration, faculty, and students:

“How can we be of help?”

What impresses her most about Graceland is how it consistently keeps lengths ahead of other liberal arts institutions. As a trained educator herself, she is amazed over and over again at the speed of response to student needs, and the flexibility in adapting to market needs. Lysinger understands what it takes to maintain the lead especially in curriculum development, and has nothing but praise for the faculty who, on top of everything else, continuously review, revise, and strengthen Graceland’s program offerings. The Transformational Leadership program, to her, is one outstanding result of that, and she can’t wait to see the very first graduates with this value-added major bring it to fruition. Whatever the next big or small idea is to position Graceland grads for the future — Lysinger and the Alumni Board will be right there asking, “How can we help?”

Do you desire an opportunity to reconnect with your alma mater? Consider joining the Alumni Board of Directors, or participate in one of GU4U’s networking events! Find out more: graceland.edu/AlumniBoard