Wheaton College Alumni Magazine Winter 2014 | Page 35

AlUmni association Cindra Stackhouse Taetzsch and Mark Dillon, on the stage in Edman Chapel, Homecoming 2009 Alumni RelAtions Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations Dr. R. Mark Dillon Director of Alumni Relations Cindra Stackhouse Taetzsch ’82 Alumni AssociAtion President Kurt D. Tillman ’78 President-Elect Paul T. Klobucher ’96 Past President Christopher A. Jahns ’82 Executive Director Cindra Stackhouse Taetzsch ’82 Professor Emeritus LeRoy H. Pfund ’49 Alumni Trustee Representatives Kurt D. Tillman ’78 Paul T. Klobucher ’96 Christopher A. Jahns ’82 Board of Directors Serving through 2014 Meagan Stuart Gillan ’75 Erin Hoekstra ’04 Christopher Yuan, MA ’07 Board of Directors Serving through 2015 John Biedebach ’89 Jessica Min Chang ’12 Kirstin Skytte Lindquist ’87 Tiffany Staples ’06 Board of Directors Serving through 2016 Joelle Meyer Herskind ’91 David McDowell ’68 Donna Peterson Nielsen ’93 Susannah Schwarcz ’00 Hythem Shadid ’79 Renae Schauer Smith ’91 Barbara Ruesche Scotchmer Winter ’60 Board of Directors Serving through 2017 Judith Briscoe Golz ’83 Wheaton College is saying farewell to a good friend and colleague who has served with distinction since 1994. Dr. R. Mark Dillon hon, vice president for advancement and alumni relations, will begin a new chapter in January as executive vice president for mission advancement at the American Bible Society in New York City. Mark’s professional contributions to Wheaton College are many. He successfully planned and executed the New Century Challenge (1996-2001) and the Promise of Wheaton (2006-2010) capital campaigns that resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in gifts from alumni, parents, and friends. New and improved buildings, more scholarships, a larger endowment—Wheaton is strong in many ways because of Mark Dillon’s leadership. In 2012, Mark wrote a book called Giving and Getting in the Kingdom: A Field Guide (Moody Publishers). It’s a blueprint for strategic fundraising that serves the body of Christ and advances the kingdom of God. I love this sentence tucked in the middle of the book: “Taking credit for God’s abiding, generous work on behalf of your ministry is unworthy of service in the kingdom.” I’ve worked closely with Mark for years, and this concept of not taking credit isn’t just theory to him. He is one of the most humble persons I have ever met. In fact, 1 Corinthians 3:7 is one of Mark’s favorite Scripture verses: “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” Mark prefers to be in the background, quietly telling the Wheaton story and encouraging generous people to give to Wheaton because of the transformational work God is doing in the lives of Wheaton students. On behalf of the Wheaton College Alumni Association, it is my distinct privilege to thank you, Mark, for your service and for your servant’s heart, these nearly 20 years. You will be missed. Cindra Stackhouse Taetzsch ’82 Executive Director, Wheaton College Alumni Association Interim Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations W H E A T O N     33