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C H A M I N A DE MAGAZI NE
C H A M I N A D E ’ S A D VA N C E M E N T TEAM IS ON A
Mission TO B U I LD Relationships Gary Cordova, vice president of Advancement at Chaminade, says his job, and the work of his five-member team, is all about building strong relationships—with alumni, with members of the broader community and with others who understand and believe in Chaminade’s strong social service mission. “We have immediate needs for the University, but relationship building is in the long view,” Cordova said. “The engagement approaches have to be individualized—it’s not a one size fits all. Philanthropy is so impactful in the lives of our students and we need to ensure we’re conveying that message.” Cordova took over his current role at the University in July 2020, bringing more than 20 years of experience in public and private universities and independent private schools.
And he’s hit the ground running, bringing on team members to stabilize what he calls the three-legged stool of advancement. Two of those legs are enrollment management and public funding. The third leg—private philanthropy— requires significant short- and long-term strategic planning. “That’s where we come in,” Cordova said of his office, adding that one of his top priorities has been beginning the work of building a strong alumni outreach program and conducting relationship building with community philanthropists who share and understand Chaminade’s mission. That work has already paid off. Cordova said the University’s Chaminade Fund, which offers direct aid to students, saw
an increase in support during the last academic year and beat previous records. The help, he added, was more needed than ever, as many students and their families struggled financially because of the COVID pandemic. Serving with Cordova in the Advancement office are: • Jill Higashi, assistant vice president of Advancement, • Jeannie Lum ‘05, MBA ‘07, director of alumni relations, • Kendra Sia, director of the Annual Fund, • and Joanne Nakano, executive assistant to the vice president.
Advancement team shown above ( left to right ) : Jeannie Lum, Jill Higashi, Gary Cordova, Kendra Sia and Joanne Nakano
