Diane Mendenhall was named executive director of the Nebraska Alumni Association on Sept. 3. She is the first director of the alumni association following a restructuring designed to better integrate its activities with alumni programming across the university.

Mendenhall

Mendenhall’s selection was announced by Tom Burnell, Alumni  Association president. Mendenhall, a native of Ogallala, will join the alumni staff Sept. 22 after eight years serving as assistant athletic director for development and ticketing for the Athletic Department. She succeeds James O’Hanlon, former dean of Teachers College, who has served as interim executive director for the past year.

“Diane brings enthusiasm and energy to the association,” Burnell said. “She is knowledgeable about the university and its importance to alumni and Nebraskans, and she understands the role of an alumni association in supporting research and education.

“With Diane, the association will show a renewed commitment to involving Nebraska alumni with their alma mater. Her background in coaching, mentoring, motivational speaking, management and fund raising, among other talents, will serve the alumni association and the university well.”

As executive director of the 25,000-member Nebraska Alumni Association, Mendenhall will work closely with the university administration, athletic department, University of Nebraska Foundation, campus community and alumni chapters to encourage the active participation of alumni and friends with the university.

“This is an exciting time to join the efforts of Chancellor Harvey Perlman, the foundation and the alumni association in creating lifelong connections between alumni and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln,” Mendenhall said. “The Nebraska Alumni Association is poised to engage alumni and friends of the university throughout the state, nation and world to support and celebrate the overall advancement of UNL as a world-class research university.

“I look forward to working with the staff at the alumni association.”

Perlman said Mendenhall is a good fit for the Alumni Association.

“Diane’s strengths in building relationships and developing programs that connect with alumni are just the talents that our association needs as it seeks to expand the involvement of alumni in the affairs of the university,” Perlman said.