Della Greenlee

Service to Alma Mater

The CLU Alumni Association Board of Directors presented the 2006 Service to Alma Mater Award to Della Greenlee ’82.

Della began her journey at CLU as Faculty Secretary in 1976. Her dedicated work ethic soon received the attention of President Mark Mathews, and she was promoted to Executive Secretary to the President. It was Dr. Mathews who recognized Della’s talents and encouraged her to pursue more challenging opportunities.

With the support of her pastor husband, John, and three daughters, Della decided to complete her college education at CLU. She was one of the first to design an interdisciplinary major, combining religion, psychology and English. In 1982, she became the first in her family to obtain a degree.

Della was then able to craft a position in the Development office that allowed her to use her talents to write grant proposals and provide stewardship for scholarships. The Thousand Oaks resident continues as the Director of Foundation Relations and Scholarship Development today.         

Della’s personal touch is a comfort to both donors and students alike. In her 30 years of service, she has fostered relationships with foundations and individuals that provide opportunities for hundreds of students each year. In addition, Della personally contributes to one established scholarship every year to ensure that it can be awarded.

In her time at CLU, some of her proudest accomplishments have been the Ornament Project, a holiday program that hand delivers ornaments to donors who have given over $10,000 cumulatively; the $1.5 million Fletcher Jones Endowed Chair for Developmental Biology; and the Irvine Foundation Campus Diversity Initiative.