Southwestern University’s division of University Relations has promoted Grace Josey Pyka ’05 to the position of Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations, where she will facilitate the initiatives of the Southwestern University Alumni Association and guide alumni programs and communications within the Office of Alumni Relations. 

In her 15 years at Southwestern, Pyka has served the alumni and parent communities. In her most recent role as Director of Parent Relations, she managed parent communications, Sprog Orientation parent programming, Spring Family Weekend, and the Parent Leadership Council. Under her leadership, the Parent Leadership Council grew from 20 member families in 2015 to 65 families in 2023. 

In her new role, she will focus on alumni communications, sharing the stories and successes of Southwestern alumni, growing Homecoming and local chapter attendance, engaging more young alumni, encouraging alumni support for Southwestern students, and building a strong body of alumni leaders via the Alumni Council.

Pyka is joined in the Office of Alumni Relations by Becky Rodriguez P’15, who serves as the director of emerging and young alumni giving and Serena Bettis P’23, the associate director of alumni relations.