Executive director chosen to lead Purdue Alumni Association
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Kirk R. Cerny, who has served as associate executive director of membership and development for the University of Nebraska Alumni Association in Lincoln since 2004, was chosen for the position today (Monday, Sept. 11) by the Purdue Alumni Association board of directors. His appointment is effective Oct. 30.
"The Purdue Alumni Association has a wonderfully rich history and thousands of loyal alumni, and we are pleased to have found such as strong leader as Kirk Cerny," said Rich Cruz, president of the Purdue Alumni Association. "Kirk's many years of experience and his strong record in the area of alumni relations will be a great benefit to PAA as we seek to grow our membership and become more involved in the lives of our members."
Ben Paolillo, director of alumni clubs, has been serving as interim executive director of the alumni association since J. Todd Coleman resigned in April.
Cerny brings more than 12 years of senior-level alumni relations and advancement experience to Purdue. While at the University of Nebraska Alumni Association, Cerny directed all fund-raising efforts and led membership development and marketing.
Prior to his term at Nebraska, Cerny served as the senior vice president for membership services from 1999-2004 for the University of Kansas Alumni Association. He was director of chapters and constituent programs there from 1994-99.
Cerny was the 2000-01 recipient of the Council of Alumni Association Executives Forman Fellowship for Research in Alumni Programming Award. He also received the 1994 Outstanding New Employee of the Year Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
Cerny received a bachelor's degree in 1992 and a master's degree in science education and higher education administration in 1998, both from the University of Kansas.
The Purdue Alumni Association was founded in 1878 and has more than 66,000 members worldwide.
Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu
Sources: Ben Paolillo, interim executive director of Purdue Alumni Association, (765) 496-6241, bjpaolillo@purdue.edu
Rich Cruz, president of the Purdue Alumni Association, (703) 779-8481, richard.cruz@alumni.purdue.edu
Kirk Cerny, (402) 617-3930, kcerny@unlalum.nebraska.edu
Nicole Reas, director of external relations for Purdue Alumni Association, (765) 496-6193, nreas@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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