IC expands development and alumni relations team
Illinois College welcomed two graduates to its development and alumni relations team in January. Chloe Neisler Lucca ’14 joins the office as the director of development and alumni relations, and Taylor Smith ’15 serves as associate development officer.
In her role, Lucca joins the development leadership team with a mission to engage the vibrant Illinois College alumni community, meet the financial resource needs of the College and support IC’s strategic vision.
Lucca will work closely with the Illinois College Society, reunion classes and annual giving programs to increase donor support. She will serve as liaison to the Alumni Association Board of Directors, connecting the group to all areas of the College and providing support in reaching its annual goals. She will also manage on- and off-campus alumni events. Lucca, a 2014 graduate, said she is excited to return to Illinois College, a place she thinks of as “home.”
“I look forward to working on behalf of the college as an alumnae,” she said. “Illinois College holds a special place in your heart no matter what year you graduated.”
Lucca graduated from IC with a degree in management organizational leadership with a concentration in finance. She earned her master’s degree in business administration from Benedictine University in 2018. She has previously worked as a promotional coordinator in consumer products for H. D. Smith in Springfield and as a multimedia advertising executive for the State Journal Register newspaper.
As a student, Lucca recalls having many life-changing experiences, including her internship at the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and a BreakAway trip to Ecuador, which were vital in preparing for her career. She hopes she can ensure the same opportunities for today’s students and help them to realize how valuable donors are to the College.
“It is essential for our office to have a strong presence on campus and build relationships with current students so that when they become alumni of Illinois College, they know the importance of philanthropy and understand how their donations can impact the lives of future students,” she said.
In her role as associate development officer, Smith will also work closely with alumni and engage donors to the College in various ways. She will collaborate with College leadership to develop major gift and planned giving agreements.
Smith graduated from IC in 2015 with a degree in communication and rhetorical studies. She has experience in hotel sales and has previously worked as a donor center recruiter for the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center. As a student, she interned for the Walt Disney World Company. Smith said she looks forward to her new role in at Illinois College, especially the opportunity to interact with students and alumni.
“I have always loved listening to stories from IC alumni. It gives me so much pride to hear about the joys and successes that our alumni had during their time here and after graduation,” she said. “I’m excited to see everything come full circle — getting to interact with alumni and encourage their support of students through meaningful giving.”