February 27, 2008

Working in the Best of Both Worlds

Ed Lenane

Lenane has a unique role of bridging the worlds of alumni relations and admission.  “I try to help keep these departments connected, because they rely heavily on one another,” he says.  “From the alumni relations perspective, admission is bringing in our future alumni; and at the same time, our alumni can be key in helping recruit students to OWU.”

Building relationships with alumni and keeping them connected to OWU is an important part of Lenane’s success in his role at OWU. His work includes coordinating the Alumni / Parent Admission Recruitment Team (A/PART), which currently consists of about 600 volunteers. Lenane is also responsible for OWUNetworking, which is the career assistance volunteer group network.  He also searches for ways to engage alumni, bringing them to campus and locations around the country for recruitment events.

Lenane truly enjoys the dual nature of his work. “It can be challenging at times, but to me it’s great because it is the best of both worlds. I get to work with a great admission team, see the college decision-making process prospective students go through, and participate in helping to recruit these students to OWU,” he says. “But I also have the opportunity to meet and work with alumni, build relationships with them, learn about the passion they still carry from their OWU experiences, and then connect them with prospective students and their families. When alumni share that passion with prospective students, it can have a great impact on a student’s decision to choose OWU.”

Lenane, who grew up just outside Albany, New York, has had a long career in education. His undergraduate degree is in secondary education, but after consulting for four years with his national fraternity, he discovered his true passion was higher education.  He then went to the University of South Carolina for a master’s degree in higher education administration.

“After graduate school, I entered the realm of higher education and held positions in residence life, student activities, Greek life, and leadership development,” he says. “When the job at OWU came open several years ago, I saw it as a great opportunity.  I had strong experience working with alumni volunteers, so it was a great match for my skills and the needs of the position at OWU.

Lenane lives in Delaware with his wife, Lisa, and six-year old daughter Alexis. He also has two dogs, a chocolate and a yellow lab. The family and puppies keep him busy, but when he finds time he also enjoys golf and exercise. And on the occasion he can find a dog sitter, he and his family enjoy travel.

– Christopher Federer