Development and Alumni Relations Staff
Head
Alumni Relations
Development
Support Staff
Denise Buhrmester
Director of External Relations
(765) 494-7890 or (800) 535-7303
dmbuhrmester@purdue.edu
Denise joined the CFS development and alumni relations team in March 2008. Prior to coming to CFS, she was employed for 11 years as director of membership and marketing for the Purdue Alumni Association. She also worked in marketing for Purdue Human Resources, Micro Database Systems, and two apparel manufacturers in southern California.
A 1986 graduate of Purdue University's College of Liberal Arts, she is a member of the North Central Advertising Federation, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, the Purdue Alumni Association, and the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
An avid traveler, Denise has visited more than 20 countries. She enjoys cooking, reading, interior design, and spending time with her son.
Wendi Ailor
Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events
(765) 494-7890 or (800) 535-7303
wailor@purdue.edu
Wendi joined CFS Development and Alumni Relations in January 2007. Before coming to Purdue, she had worked the past seven years at Manchester College in North Manchester, Indiana, as director of church relations within the Communication and Marketing Department. There, she was involved in alumni relations, student recruitment, and special event planning. Prior to Manchester, she served as director of nurture and youth education at Goshen City Church of the Brethren for three years.
She received a master’s in theology with an emphasis in youth and young adult ministry at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Indiana, in May 2006. Her undergraduate work in elementary education was completed at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania in 1993.
Wendi enjoys alumni relations because of the opportunity to bring people together around a common cause or shared interest. She believes it’s important to create connections between alumni and students — providing students with opportunities to learn from alumni and for alumni to share their knowledge, skills, and passions with students.
Wendi and her husband, Mark, live in Lafayette. She enjoys scrapbooking, reading, and collecting pottery on her travels.
Susan Smith
Director of Development
(765) 494-7890 or (800) 535-7303
smith628@purdue.edu
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Susan has called Lafayette home since 1979. Prior to joining the CFS development and alumni relations team in October 2008, she spent 30 years with Family Services Inc. in Lafayette as president and CEO. She has also served as an adjunct professor for Concordia University's Healthcare Administration program in Indianapolis.
A 1975 graduate of Chapman College in California, Susan received a master's degree in psychology from Texas A&M University in 1977. A 20-year member of the Lafayette Rotary Club, she has served on a number of boards, including Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union since 2005. She is a member of St. Mary Cathedral and very active in their lay ministries.
Susan is the proud mother of two daughters, Nicole and Andrea, and has four grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with her family, her Yorkshire Terrier, Sophie, as well as volunteering, reading, traveling, and shopping. In the summer, you will usually find her entertaining at her cottage on Lake Freeman.
Christina Wright
Director of Development
(765) 494-7890 or (800) 535-7303
cwright@purdue.edu
A Lafayette native and 2006 Purdue graduate in communications, Christina joined the CFS Development team in November 2007. Prior to coming on board, Christina served as bank sales manager at Salin Bank & Trust Co., and she worked for the Simon Property Group doing sales and marketing in the Tippecanoe Mall Management Office.
Christina had her sights set on University Development since her days as an undergraduate student, and she is thrilled to be a part of the CFS staff. She says that she knew development was the perfect job for her because it combines meeting and learning from fascinating alumni, traveling, and most importantly, working for the best university in the nation!
In her down time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Joshua, and their two Lhasa Apsos, Kowe and Luke. She also loves traveling, reading, shopping, and spending as much time as possible with her three nephews.
Debra Booth
Administrative Assistant
(765) 494-7890 or (800) 535-7303
boothd@purdue.edu
Debra joined the CFS Development and Alumni Relations team as administrative
assistant in January 1994. Previously, she was a secretary for the first Purdue University capital campaign, and also worked as a customer service representative and as a bond
secretary. During her 17 years at Purdue, Debra has enjoyed working with wonderful
people and meeting many inspirational CFS alumni and friends.
A native of Lexington, Kentucky, she moved to Delphi, Indiana, with her husband, Les. Her family eventually settled in West Lafayette, where they now reside. In her spare time, she takes pleasure in reading, cooking, and bargain shopping. Debra and her husband especially love spending time with their grandchildren, Brooklyn and Wyatt.
Cyndy Bonacorsi
Secretary
(765) 494-7890 or (800) 535-7303
bonacorc@purdue.edu
An Indiana native, Cyndy Bonacorsi has served as a secretary to the CFS Development and Alumni Relations team since January 1992. At Purdue for more than 22 years, she formerly worked in the Department of Hospitality Tourism Management and the School of Veterinary Medicine. She says working at Purdue has provided an interesting work life.
After growing up on a farm in New Richmond, Indiana, Cyndy attended Butler University and then moved to the Lafayette area.
She enjoys being involved in the Purdue community and is a member of the John Purdue Club and the Lafayette Elks Country Club. Her hobbies include traveling, bird watching, gardening, and sewing. She also enjoys going to her grandchildren’s activities with her husband, Marion.
Mary Smith
Secretary
(765) 494-7890 or (800) 535-7303
mbsmith@purdue.edu
In March 1999, Mary joined the CFS Development and Alumni Relations team as secretary. Before coming to Purdue, she served 20 years as an administrator for a Christian retreat center.
Mary has lived her entire life in the Lafayette and Dayton areas, and keeps a busy schedule outside of work. She is a member of the Home Economics Club, Goldwing Motorcycle Club, and Christian Motorcyclists Association Group. Together with her husband, Jim, they ride their motorcycles on many extended vacations and participate in numerous charity rides.
Her hobbies are birdwatching, vegetable and flower gardening, and spending time with her grandchildren, friends and family. She loves Purdue sports and is always cheering on the Boilermakers.