New BW director ready to energize, expand alumni engagement

Nothing beams success quite so exuberantly as a BW alumna whose professional poise and confidence are winsomely wedded with genuine YJ4L spirit and devotion.

Such is the case with Madeline (Southall) Wallace '16, Baldwin Wallace's new director of alumni engagement. The energetic 28-year-old has been an enthusiastic YJ4L both during her busy college days, where the marketing major was involved in myriad activities and named the 2015 Homecoming Queen, as well as post-graduation.

Wallace transfers into the director role after serving as a senior alumni philanthropy advisor for BW. Prior to coming to her alma mater in 2021, she was a development director at Joseph's Home, a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System in Cleveland, and an event planner with Purdue Research Foundation at Purdue University in Indiana.

Devoted Alumna Personally, Professionally

"I am ecstatic to be the director of alumni engagement and to connect with alumni spanning many generations," said Wallace. "BW has given me so much to be grateful for over the years. Having the ability to continue my work with BW to support an extraordinary experience for our alumni is such a gift.

"I chose Baldwin Wallace because it offered a close-knit community. When I visited campus, I felt unbelievably welcomed by everyone's warmth and friendliness. Coming from my small hometown of Nitro, West Virginia, I was inspired by the cultural richness of Cleveland and felt the opportunities for personal and professional experiences were invaluable assets to my BW education," she continued.

"As a student, I embraced as many opportunities for growth as I could. The depth and breadth of knowledge I gained in my academic courses opened my eyes to new career fields, new points of view and new ways of approaching challenges. Outside the classroom, I was able to immerse myself in student organizations, experiential learning, and internships that provided real-world experiences," noted Wallace.

"I met my husband, Phil, during my first-year orientation. Phil is a proud 2013 graduate of BW who double majored in public relations and marketing and was very active in co-curricular activities. Today, he is pursuing a doctoral degree in urban policy and development after earning a master's degree in higher education administration," she went on to say.

Dynamic Leader with Strong Leadership, People Skills

"The alumni director position is key in upholding and advancing Baldwin Wallace's rich history of tradition, community and philanthropy. As a strategic leader, Maddie will steer our efforts to creatively broaden our connection with alumni and provide new opportunities for them to stay connected to their alma mater," said Rebecca Sinatra '12 and '20 MBA, senior director of engagement in BW's Center for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement.

"Maddie is a YJ4L through and through. Anyone who meets her will immediately feel her love for BW and passion for our community. Her deep appreciation for the BW community, connection and philanthropy was developed during her time as a student and has carried through her career, her time as a volunteer and now returning to BW," noted Sinatra.

"She is a dynamic leader with an outstanding ability to build connections and bring ideas to reality. Her creativity and leadership will undoubtedly make an impact for decades to come," she added.

Inspiring Present, Future YJ4Ls

"Along with other professionals in the Center for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, I will help create the vision and direction that enables us to expand, unite and energize alumni engagement through personal interaction, events, online programming, ongoing communication and more. This role gives me a great sense of purpose and YJ4L pride," said Wallace.

"Alumni are an important part of the YJ4L experience and are the keepers of the long-held and cherished traditions of BW. I look forward to celebrating these traditions that make us Yellow Jackets for Life and engaging alumni in philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy to ensure that the legacy of the BW experience continues for generations to come," she emphasized.