Ashley Alm serves as Greenville University's Vice President for Advancement. A 2006 graduate of Greenville University herself, Ashley has spent the past two years serving in several advancement roles, bringing thoughtful leadership and a genuine love for Greenville's mission to every part of her work. Before returning to her alma mater, she spent seven years as the founding development director for The Restore Network, a nonprofit that recruits and supports foster and adoptive families serving children in the Illinois foster care system.
That experience shaped Ashley's approach to advancement in lasting ways, giving her a deep appreciation for how generosity can change the course of a child's life. Now, in her role at Greenville, she gets to carry that same conviction into her work with alumni and donors, connecting people with a cause they care about and helping them see the real impact of their generosity in students' lives.
1. What makes Greenville University special to you?
Greenville University will always hold a special place in my heart. I know firsthand the power this place has to shape a student during some of the most formative years of their life, because it shaped mine. The people I met and the relationships I built as a student here set the direction for so much of my life since, and there is nothing quite like getting to be part of that same story for today's students.
2. What do you love most about serving Greenville's alumni and donors?
Honestly, serving Greenville Alumni and donors is my favorite part of this job! What I love most, though, about advancement is bringing people together with causes they care deeply about. There is something powerful about helping a donor see the impact they can have and then watching that impact become real in a student's life. That is the heart of philanthropy, and I feel privileged to be part of it every day."
3. What is one thing you hope every donor knows?
I want every donor to know just how deeply their generosity shapes lives here. Because of their partnership, our students receive something rare: a Christ-centered education where we don't just give them knowledge but actively shape their character and work to grow their faith. That kind of impact is never the result of one gift, or even a handful of them. It is the result of a whole network of generous people, each playing their part, coming together to create something far greater than the sum of its pieces. I am continually grateful for that kind of partnership, and I hope every donor knows that their generosity, whatever the size, is part of something truly meaningful in a student's life.
4. Tell us a little about yourself outside of Greenville.
I live in Alton, IL with my husband and our five kids, so life at home is full, loud, and rarely quiet. Most of my free time is spent cheering my kids on at their games or serving as their Uber driver between practices and activities. As a family, we love being active outdoors together. When I do find a free moment, I enjoy baking or reading historical fiction. We're active in our community and have called Emmanuel Free Methodist Church home for the last 20 years, where we've found lasting friendships and a strong sense of belonging.
Before coming to Greenville University, I spent over seven years as the founding development director for The Restore Network, a nonprofit that recruits and supports foster and adoptive families serving children in the Illinois foster care system. That work gave me a deep appreciation for how generosity can change the trajectory of a child's life, something I carry with me every day in this role.
