After nearly 30 years of service to Wittenberg University, Patricia Richmond Benne retired from her current position as director of alumni relations on Jan. 1.

A 1968 graduate of Wittenberg, Benne has led the university’s alumni relations efforts since 2001. In this capacity, Benne coordinated programming and off-campus events for more than 25,000 alumni, parents and friends worldwide. Under her leadership, the university sponsored its first alumni trip overseas and welcomed record number of alumni back to campus for its new Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. Prior to Benne assuming the post, Wittenberg previously hosted Alumni Weekend in the summer and Homecoming in the fall. The combined event has consistently attracted more than 1,000 alumni annually each fall since it began in 2004.

“Because of Pat’s leadership, Wittenberg has increased its alumni chapters across the country, and we now have one of the best and strongest Homecoming and Reunion programs in the university’s history,” said Bill Cloyd, vice president for university advancement and a 1990 Wittenberg alumnus.

Prior to serving in alumni relations, Benne spent 26 years in Wittenberg’s department of education, including as an adjunct professor and as director of student teaching and teacher placement. Throughout her tenure in the department, Benne placed hundreds of teachers in classrooms locally and internationally. Beginning in 2006, Benne will again assist the education department with teacher placement on a part-time basis.

“Working with young teachers was probably the most rewarding experience of my career,” Benne said. “The transition to alumni office then allowed me to work with former students and meet many new Wittenbergers of all ages. The position proved to be a wonderful opportunity to engage our alumni with our alma mater.”

“The university is grateful for Pat’s dedication and extraordinary service to her alma mater over the course of three decades,” said President Mark H. Erickson. “We are glad that she will continue to serve her alma mater and our student-teachers, and we wish her well as she begins this next chapter in her life.”

Benne earned her B.S. in elementary education from Wittenberg and her M.Ed. in administration and supervision from the University of Dayton. She plans to devote more time to her family and volunteer in the Springfield community in addition to her part-time role in Wittenberg’s education department.