Today, Aug. 3, marks the beginning of LuAnn Davis’ life as a retiree and volunteer and Jennifer Schall’s first day as vice president for Advancement. The dynamic duo have spent more than a year preparing for the changeover, ensuring a smooth transition for the university and its alumni.

Schall’s path to becoming Union Adventist University’s newest vice president began with yearbook ads. As a student at Midland Academy, she spent a summer selling advertising for the school’s yearbook. She enjoyed connecting with businesses and raising money to support the publication.

When Jim Hoehn ’62, then president of the Kansas-Nebraska Conference, asked what career she wanted to pursue, Schall told him about her sales experience, and said she had been considering marketing or advertising.

His reply? “You need to look into institutional development, and you need to connect with LuAnn Davis.”

That chat and subsequent conversations with Davis ’82 and Jackie Smith ’99 cemented in the high school student’s mind a lifelong calling. When it was time to tour colleges, Schall asked each school on her shortlist whether it offered a degree in institutional development.

“They weren’t even willing to consider a personalized degree,” Schall said. “They told me to study marketing or public relations, but I knew what I wanted. Only Union said, ‘Yes, you can study institutional development here.’”

Choosing Union became even easier when her father, Bernie Rieke, got a job as a baker in the university’s dining services. Her family moved with her to college, and before she even started her freshman year, Schall was hired to be Buell Fogg’s right hand in the Enrollment Office, first learning from Brian Adams ’02, then eventually leading a team of 10 other student recruiters. 

“I met LuAnn, I met Buell, and I was just sold,” Schall said. “I took my institutional development classes from LuAnn, and I worked with Buell. Mike and Michelle Mesnard and Barry and Lisa Forbes all served as academic advisers. I had the time of my life in college because of the amazing mentors I found. I’m so honored to be in a position to help continue their legacy at Union.”

After graduating in 2005, Schall put her institutional development degree to work at several nonprofit organizations, including the University of Nebraska Foundation, Mid-Plains Community College and Girl Scouts of America. During that time, she married Ben Schall, and the couple welcomed two children, Carley and Collin.

Her work required a lot of driving, especially fundraising for the Girl Scouts. While living in North Platte, Schall spent hours traveling across central and western Nebraska to meet with stakeholders and donors. When the Nebraska National Guard transferred her husband to Lincoln, she found herself driving even more.

Schall remembers one winter when she hit a patch of black ice with her infant daughter in the back seat.

“We spun out and ended up on the side of the interstate,” Schall said. “It was very literally a Jesus-take-the-wheel moment, and I know angels must have moved the cars around me out of the way. When we finally came to a stop, I turned around, and Carley was laughing like it was the most fun she had ever had. I was just bawling, and I thought, I can’t work like this anymore.”

Schall next joined her husband at the Nebraska National Guard, where she planned events for the children and families of deployed and soon-to-deploy troops. “It was very meaningful work, but it was not less work,” Schall said. “I was still driving all over Nebraska, and I really wanted to get back into fundraising.”

As she prayed for the right opportunity, Capitol Humane Society in Lincoln hired her as director of marketing and development. She organized events, wrote grants and connected with donors in support of a worthwhile cause. Still, a dream that had formed when she was a student remained in the back of her mind.

“It’s like the song says, ‘I wanta go back, I gotta go back to Union again,’” Schall said.

“I always knew I wanted to work at Union,” she continued. “I love this community. I just didn’t know exactly how it was going to happen. People who have a wonderful boss like LuAnn don’t just leave. Obviously, it had to be on God’s time.”

While Schall was attending commencement at Union in 2017, Davis told her, “Let’s go to The Mill. There’s something I need to ask you.” 

Schall tried to remain professional on the outside. “Inside, I was screaming, It’s happening! OK, God, here we go! Let’s do this!” she said. That summer, as Linda Skinner ’71 prepared to retire, Schall returned to Union as director of major gifts.

“Working alongside LuAnn for these nine years has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Schall said. “She has been such a champion of Union through good times and hard times. She has such an amazing analytical mind combined with such a caring heart that is overflowing with love for our students and for Union. When there’s a problem, LuAnn solves it. When we need just a little more money to help a student out, I’m convinced God tells her which phone numbers to dial. Filling her shoes will be a huge responsibility, but I know when I need help, she’s just a phone call away.”

In addition to working together in the Advancement Office, Davis and Schall have co-taught institutional development classes, preparing a new generation of fundraisers. “Over the nine years I’ve been co-teaching with LuAnn, a lot has changed,” Schall said. “Social media algorithms and AI keep us on our toes, but the core principle remains the same: loving people. That’s what philanthropy is all about.”

Schall is grateful for the love Union’s alumni and constituents continue to demonstrate to future generations. “I’m not exaggerating when I say Union has the best alumni,” Schall said. “When I meet with colleagues from other universities at conferences, I hear their problems, I pray for them, and I become all the more grateful for Union’s alumni. We had a 70% donor retention rate last year. Most nonprofits would be overjoyed with half that.”

“We just had an alumni meeting where 65 people showed up in Oregon, 1,600 miles from campus,” she continued. “We have alumni call us and ask, ‘What can I do? How can I help more? How can I promote Union? Do you have videos I can show my church?’ Other schools are shocked by how deeply our alumni care about Union. What can I say? They are wonderful people, and it’s a blessing to work with them.”

As Davis retires, she passionately encourages Union’s alumni, constituents and friends to continue praying and giving, knowing their support keeps the university’s mission shining brightly. “Our donors are an essential part of the students’ campus experience,” Davis said. “I am grateful to have someone with so much love for these stakeholders and the university now carrying the torch and keeping our vision alive. Jennifer is capable, caring and a quick learner – she’s a shining light to everyone she meets. With her leadership, our faithful alumni and supporters will continue to create miracles and inspire hope for the students God brings to Union, just as they have for 135 years. Together, the light of love and possibility will burn even brighter for generations to come.”