Three join WSU Foundation staff
Caite Holman joined the Foundation on Dec. 8 as senior director of annual giving, providing strategic vision, leadership and direction for the annual giving team. She was previously director of annual giving at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., where she had worked since 2007 in various capacities related to annual giving. Holman has a master's degree in continuing and college education and a bachelor's degree in English, both from WWU. Holman said she is excited to be working at the WSU Foundation and Wichita State at such an eventful time.
"The first time I heard President Bardo exclaim, 'It's a great day to be a Shocker!' I felt energized and moved," she says. "I feel so lucky to be here and I'm grateful to be part of an amazing team and the Shocker family."
Kristi Oberg has been director of development for Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences since Jan. 26. A WSU alumna, Oberg has bachelor's and master's degrees in communication. Working in fundraising since 2002, she spent most of her career as director of development for the Kansas Humane Society, where she successfully completed a campaign to build the new Murfin Animal Care Campus. Oberg is a sixth-generation Kansan and is thrilled with the opportunity to represent her alma mater.
"As an LAS graduate, I can't wait to give back to the college that laid the foundation for my success," she says.
JoAnn Graffam started in her role as senior director of donor engagement on Feb. 9. In this new role she will work to integrate and strengthen communications, events and donor stewardship. Graffam comes to WSU from Missouri Southern State University, where she was vice president for development and executive director of the Missouri Southern Foundation. Graffam holds a bachelor's degree in mass communication from MSSU and a master's degree in public relations from Syracuse University.
"I'm thrilled to be joining this talented team, especially when there is so much growth at the university," she says. "Great things are ahead for Shocker Nation!"
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Media note: Photos of Caite Holman, Kristi Oberg and JoAnn Graffam can be found at http://wichita.edu/foundationphotos.
Contact: Belinda Venters, WSU Foundation director of communications,
316-978-5624 or belinda.venters@wichita.edu.