Wendy Pondell

Wendy oversees alumni engagement function that includes events, communications, and volunteer opportunities designed to increase engagement of alumni and donors.

My connection to St. Ambrose: I'm a proud 2005 graduate of the Communication department. I was Wendy Heithoff then and earned my double major in Journalism and Public Relations & Marketing Communications. More recently, I earned my master's degree in Organizational Leadership in 2022.  I'm so thankful for my St. Ambrose experience; it really is like a second home to me. In addition, I'm married to a 2008, 2016 MBA grad (Sean) and my sister is a 2007 grad (Kristy). I began my career at St. Ambrose in December 2012.

What I like about my job: Almost everything! I get to plan events, connect with alumni, write stories about St. Ambrose, learn about our history, and do a lot of random things that keep my job interesting. It's everything I wanted out of my major. Plus, I work with an amazing group of people who make every day fun! My favorite event is Homecoming, especially the 50th reunion. It's great to see the alumni return to campus, see how much it's changed, and catch up with each other. They tell stories and reminisce about pranks they pulled. It's amazing to see how much St. Ambrose means to them, even after all these years.

Most commonly asked question: Do you work during the summer? The answer is yes. Even though students are gone, most offices are still open. The summers are a lot of fun at the Alumni House. We host the Bix Porch Party, plan for the fall, and enjoy a few lunchtime cookouts with others who work here at the corner of Brady and Kirkwood.