Development & Alumni Relations Staff
Meet the team responsible for making sure your gifts make the biggest impact.
A native Texan, Chris earned a bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and an MBA at the University of South Alabama. With more than 15 years of combined experience as the vice president/chief advancement officer at three other universities, Chris leads ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼’s fundraising and alumni relations. He and his wife, Lynnea, live in Seguin and have two grown children.
Fonda Mathis | Associate Vice President for Development Services
Fonda earned her bachelor’s degree at Southwest Texas State University. She started her career in the information technology field supporting software platforms for a variety of business applications. Eventually moving to a position in the development office, as Associate Vice President for Development Services, where she oversees database management, advancement reporting, gift recording, data integrity, data security and research. Fonda enjoys volunteering and community service.
Sharon Huffman Murphy '17, '18 | Assistant Director for Development Services & Research
Sharon, a two-time alumna of ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼, earned her Bachelor's of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Marketing in 2017. A year later, she graduated with a Master's of Science in Data Analytics, becoming a member of the first graduating class in said program. Prior to joining ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼, she managed data for other nonprofits in the San Antonio area. In her current role, she is in charge of the department's prospect research as well as the portfolio, data, and budget management. Sharon enjoys reading and traveling with family in her free time.
Barbette Wills | Gift Coordinator
Barbette has served as the Gift Processor/Data Coordinator for Development and Alumni Relations since 2007. She and her husband, Casey, have five children and eight grandchildren, and are known as Gigi and Papa. Their family farm is home to cattle, goats, chickens, nine dogs, and one cat. ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ has been a great blessing to the Wills family.
Jennifer Coulter | Development Services Coordinator
Jennifer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and English with a minor in Psychology from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. She has extensive experience working in Federal, State, and City level governments, as well as non-profit and private corporations. In her positions, she handled fundraising, grants, events, recruiting, training and supervising volunteers. Jennifer worked with adjudicated youth and helped many students get their high school diplomas or GED and later assisted them transitioning to college and trade schools. She strongly believes that education will change an individual’s life and has been an advocate for many first-generation students from various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. As the development services coordinator, she oversees maintaining gift entry, data entry, updating donations and relations information. Jennifer and her husband Jim are the proud parents of their daughter, Emily, who graduated from ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼.
Victoria Garcia | Development Events and Stewardship Coordinator
Victoria Garcia received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with concentration in Creative Writing from The University of Texas at San Antonio and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M San Antonio. Prior to joining ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼, Victoria spent 11 years in secondary education, serving as an English teacher, instructional facilitator, and head cheer coach. In her personal time, she enjoys live music, yoga, running, hiking, gardening, and writing.
Kim Gannon | Assistant Vice President for Philanthropy
With over 30 years of experience in higher education development and alumni relations, Kim leads the team of gift officers at ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼. A first-generation college graduate, she earned her bachelor’s degree in mass communications and a minor in English at Washburn University. She has a background in fundraising, volunteer management, event planning and program management. Kim joined the team at ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ in June of 2020. Prior to her current role, she worked for Texas State University. Kim collaborates with alumni and friends to build connections and increase engagement with ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼. She and her husband, Gary, live in New Braunfels.
Jason Derscheid | Director of Leadership Gifts
Jason is a graduate of Tulane University where he completed a self-designed major titled Music Industry Studies. After Hurricane Katrina, he returned to New Orleans and shortly thereafter began his nonprofit career and attended his first NFL game for the reopening of the Superdome making him a Saints fan forever, WHO DAT! He is an avid outdoorsman whose favorite places include Big Bend and the Boundary Waters.
Robert Burns | Associate Director of Development
Robert holds a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Social Studies Education from Miami University. He began his career as an eighth-grade history teacher and a baseball coach. Later, he transitioned into non-profit development, gaining experience with a wildlife rescue and a children’s mental health hospital. Currently, he is the Associate Director of Development, where he focuses on engaging with alumni and prospective donors. Robert is married to Brittany, and they have a 2-year-old daughter, Claire, who adores her two puppy siblings.
Delia Saucedo-Milam | Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
Delia Saucedo-Milam is a seasoned professional who has been working in annual giving, fundraising events, capital projects, and grant writing for almost a decade. She recently joined the ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Development and Alumni Relations team in September 2023, where she serves as the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations. Delia is a proud Texas State University alumna, where she played softball and earned her bachelor's degree in communication studies in 2014. In 2022, she completed her master's degree in international management with a specialization in finance from Colorado State University. Delia has worked for several nonprofit organizations before joining ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼, where she has led annual giving, capital projects, and grant writing efforts. Delia and her husband, Austin Milam, along with their two dogs, Uma, and Mr. Milo, reside in New Braunfels.
Jereme Matthews '98 | Assistant Vice President for Giving & Alumni Relations
Jereme Matthews serves as the Assistant Vice President for Giving & Alumni Relations, where he oversees Alumni Relations, Annual Giving, and Development Communications. A proud ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ alumnus from the Class of 1998, Jereme earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics and business administration.
Before transitioning to higher education, Jereme dedicated 23 years to secondary education as a mathematics teacher, coach, assistant principal, and associate principal. Throughout his career, he maintained a close connection to ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼, serving on the Alumni Board and championing the university's mission.
Jereme is married to Courtney Erickson Matthews, a fellow Bulldog and 1999 graduate. Together, they share a deep commitment to supporting the ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ community and its enduring legacy.
Gaby Alvarado | Director of Alumni Relations
Gaby received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts and Master of Arts in Administration degree from the University of the Incarnate Word. Prior to joining ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼, she served as the Associate Director of UIW’s Department of Alumni & Parent Relations focusing on communications, activities and networks for the alumni and parent associations. In addition to her work in higher education, she has broad experience in event planning, volunteer organization, and non-profit management having worked at Silver & Black Give Back, the non-profit partner of Spurs Sports & Entertainment, and the San Antonio Zoological Society. In her current role at ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼, Gaby will lead the alumni association in reconnecting graduates to Texas Lutheran and providing resources and engagement opportunities throughout the year for our Bulldogs.
Alissa Sommers '20 | Associate Director of Alumni Relations
Alissa is a proud ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ alumna earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology Exercise Science. She previously served ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ in the Admissions department. Alissa and her husband, Chris '02 have three boys. Outside of work she enjoys spending time hiking, traveling, and cheering her kids on at their sporting events.