A Storied Legacy & GU Alumni Association (GUAA) Updates
A View of GU – JULY 2025
“Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God’s living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives—and we publish it.” – 2 Corinthians 3:3 MSG
In the June issue of “A View of GU,” we talked about fostering encouragement in our "ivy-league" alumni network through “A Summer of Encouragement” via Seedbed’s Wake Up Call series (seedbed.com/wakeupcall/)—including “Fridays on Facebook” discussions about the series (facebook.com/gualumniassociation)—and with our FMC family (in particular, via two FMC Annual Conference and Family Camp tours 🏕️).
“May this soil story of God’s Word continue to shape us, personally and relationally, as GU alumni and friends this summer. May spiritual willingness lead to ever-deepening personal and relational wellness in order that we may live out of ever-widening vocational wholeness … or as we call it at GU, education for character and service. 🧡🐾🌿”
I’ll share more about our summer travels in the August issue of “A View of GU," but in this issue I want to turn our attention to your stories and the “Storied Legacy” composed of each GU “character in service” extending the benefits and blessings of a GU education throughout the world.
In the same way that we who believe in Jesus serve as “letters” attesting to transformational work of Christ in and among our lives, our storied legacy of a transforming Christ-centered education testifies to ways in which a Greenville University education encourages, equips and empowers its alumni to inspire, influence and impact the world. Our storied legacy invites others into the novel solution of character and service in response to the wicked problems in our world. We love to see our alumni serving in collaborative, problem-solving roles at work, home, church and in other realms of their daily lives.
We share these stories regularly on our Greenville University and GU Alumni Association social channels on Facebook and Instagram and in the monthly enews (see this month's story about Dale Benson '62); and we would love to share more stories of GU alumni and friends transforming their families, churches, workplaces, communities and the world! We invite you to share your stories of inspiration, influence and impact with us at alumni@greenville.edu.
At Homecoming & Family Weekend 2025 (October 23–26), we will again celebrate our story through your stories, so get your pens ready to write as we prepare to reconnect, renew and revive amidst other GU alumni and friends! (And continue to engage our soil story via The Wake-Up Call’s “Summer of Encouragement” and join us for “Fridays on Facebook” as we share takeaways, questions and comments from the week’s study! 📖)
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GU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (GUAA) UPDATES
➡️ Introducing Your GU Alumni Association 2025–27 Board Leadership
I want to take moment to recognize your new 2025–27 GU Alumni Association (GUAA) storied legacy of leadership:
- President: Jeff Finley ’96
- Vice President: Amber (Featherston ’13) Reynolds
- Secretary: Janet (Jordahl ’83) Wise
- Immediate Past President: John Young ’94
President Jeff Finley ’96 serves as the executive editor of Light + Life, an online magazine published by the Free Methodist Church USA. Jeff joined Light + Life in 2011 after a dozen years of reporting and editing for Sun-Times Media in the Chicago area. Jeff grew up in the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis and now resides in Indianapolis. Twenty-seven years ago this month, he married Jennifer (Nead ’98) Finley, who serves as the superintendent of the FMCUSA’s Wabash and New South Conferences. They are the parents of a teenage son, Drew. Along with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Greenville, Jeff earned a Master of Arts degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois Springfield with additional graduate coursework in journalism at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He joined the GU Alumni Board in the fall of 2021. He also serves on the boards of the Gene R. Alston Memorial Foundation and Friends of Immanuel.
“I’m excited for this new opportunity to give back to Greenville, because the university has greatly impacted who I am spiritually, professionally, and personally. I look forward to working collaboratively with fellow Alumni Board members and Alumni Relations Director Robyn Florian as we reconnect other alumni with our noble alma mater and let them know how God is currently working through the university to educate, equip, and inspire future alumni.”
Vice President Amber (Featherston ’13) Reynolds graduated from Greenville University (College) with a degree in Communication: Public Relations. She met fellow alum Chris Reynolds (’13) on campus and they got married later that year. They now live with their two children on Chris’s family farm in rural Illinois.
Professionally, Amber works for a marketing firm focused on promoting New York Times best-selling authors, as well as those in the foster care space. She uses her skills to create campaigns that amplify real stories and spark real change. But her greatest credentials come from lived experience; she’s adopted three children through foster care and fostered eleven total while co-founding a nonprofit Boots and Blessings in Galesburg, IL.
Whether she’s developing a brand strategy, advocating for vulnerable kids, or trying to avoid stepping on Legos, Amber brings honesty, heart, and just the right amount of sarcasm to everything she does. She credits Greenville for helping her find her voice—and the people who shaped her calling.
Secretary Janet (Jordahl ’83) Wise GUAA Secretary Janet (Jordahl ’83) Wise grew up in Greenville and spent her young life running around campus, like most faculty kids did when you have a father that taught there! She graduated from Greenville with a duel degree in Elementary Education (K-9) and Special Education (K-12). After graduation, Janet married her high school sweetheart, Tom Wise. They were blessed with three children, two of which also graduated from Greenville. Janet and Tom now live in Rochester, IL.
Janet achieved her Master of Arts in Reading from Western Illinois University. After teaching for 29 years in public education, followed by three years teaching and directing a preschool, Janet retired and has been blessed with the ability to travel.
Janet has served on the Alumni Board for several years and hopes to continue making a difference in the lives of GU alumni in this new role. Janet emphasizes, “Greenville (College) University means a lot to me. We are blessed to have Christian Education!”
➡️ Come Home to Work! 🏠💼🧡 Current GU job openings include "Benefits Administrator," positions in "Traditional Undergraduate Admissions and Events," "Media Event Coordinator," and Gymnastics coaching positions. Visit https://www.greenville.edu/jobs for more information and additional job openings! 😍
➡️ Giving to GU & the St. Louis Post Office 💸 We wanted to let you know about recent mail delays affecting the St. Louis postal distribution center, as reported here. These issues may have prevented us from receiving checks or other mail you’ve sent, and you may not have received some of our print communications.
We deeply value your ongoing support and engagement, and we don’t want these mail issues to interrupt our connection. If you’ve mailed a donation recently or think you’ve missed our updates, please reply to this email or call our Advancement Office at 618-664-6500. We’d also be glad to help you set up alternative ways to stay in touch and support us that don’t rely on USPS including online giving, email updates, and secure digital communication.
Thank you so much for your understanding and continued support!
👟 YOUR NEXT STEPS: Don’t forget to mark your calendars for Homecoming & Family Weekend 2025, “Remember that You Are Ivy,” October 23–26! Like our GU Alumni Association Facebook page! Reserve your hotel rooms! Join your reunion class FB group! Get your plane tickets! Share Homecoming social posts with classmates! In the August issue, we'll share more about summer alumni travel and the relaunch of alumni international trips!
Keep praying. Keep watching. And keep thanking God with us for the good work He continues to do on campus in the lives of GU students, faculty and staff and in you, our GU alumni and friends. 🧡🐾🌿
VIEW "FOR THE RECORD - JULY 2025 ENEWS
