Head of Office
Denise Buhrmester, Director of External Relations

Alumni Relations
Wendi Ailor, Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events

Development
Christina Wright, Director of Development

Support Staff
Debra Booth, Administrative Assistant
Cyndy Bonacorsi, Secretary
Mary Smith, Secretary

Denise Buhrmester
Director of External Relations
Phone: (765) 494-7890 or (800) 535-7303
E-mail: 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
Phone: (765) 494-7890 or (800) 535-7303
E-mail: 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.

Christina Wright
Director of Development
Phone: (765) 494-7890 or (800) 535-7303
E-mail: 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
Phone: (765) 494-7890 or (800) 535-7303
E-mail: 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
Phone: (765) 494-7890 or (800) 535-7303
E-mail: 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
Phone: (765) 494-7890 or (800) 535-7303
E-mail: 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.

CFS Development and Alumni Relations
Matthews Hall, Room 101
812 W. State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2060
Phone: (800) 535-7303 or (765) 494-7890
E-mail: cfsalums@purdue.edu