Dean of Advancement, Wabash College

Michelle L. Janssen has served as the Dean for College Advancement at Wabash College since August 1, 2014, overseeing Annual Giving, Major Gifts, Advancement Services, and Alumni and Affinity Group Engagement. Janssen has provided strategic leadership for the historic Giant Steps comprehensive campaign, which raised over $250 million in support of Wabash College.

With nearly three decades of experience in advancement, she previously served as Vice President of Alumni and College Relations at Berea College, where she led a large team focused on fundraising, marketing, and alumni engagement. Before Berea, Janssen spent nearly 20 years at her alma mater, Valparaiso University, where she directed Valparaiso's largest comprehensive campaign, exceeding its $200 million goal by $38 million. Her background also includes roles in advancement at Washington University in St. Louis and Lutheran Child and Family Service of Michigan.

A Certified Fund Raising Executive and frequent speaker on major gift solicitation, Janssen is also a past president of the Association of Lutheran Development Executives, where she received the Virgil Anderson Award for lifetime achievement and the President's Award for Volunteer Service.