Barry McNamara  |  Published October 05, 2017

Eager to tell the story

Talbott ’95 returns to her alma mater in development role
MONMOUTH, Ill. – When she graduated from Monmouth College in 1995, Jeani Talbott was immediately tasked with selling prospective students on her alma mater as an admissions counselor.

Now, she says, she is eager to share “the Monmouth College story” again in her new role as associate director of the College’s 1853 Society.

“I was so proud of Monmouth College – it was so very important to me – and it was very easy for me to sell,” said Talbott, who worked at her alma mater through 2001. “Now, I’m excited to meet people like myself with a passion for Monmouth College, and I’m looking forward to telling the Monmouth College story again.”

Named in honor of the year the College was founded, the 1853 Society encourages greater annual financial support, promotes long-term giving and pays tribute to an “elite group” of donors. The 1853 Society includes five annual giving levels – beginning with $1,000 gifts and extending to gifts of more than $25,000.

“It’s important to build a relationship with our donors who maybe need that extra push to donate a little more,” said Talbott. “I’m looking forward to helping educate them about the wonderful things that are going on around campus.”

Talbott began her new position on Oct. 2. She returns to Monmouth from Carl Sandburg College in her native Galesburg, Ill., where she served as an academic adviser the past five years.

A member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Talbott played on the College’s first varsity women’s soccer team in 1994.

“I think Monmouth College is a place you can go and be everything you want to be,” said Talbott, who majored in sociology with a minor in philosophy. “You’re actually encouraged to do that. Opportunities – like the new lacrosse programs and new student organizations – are developing every day, every year.”

Talbott also served the College as a Scot Ambassador, a student position that led directly to her first job out of college. After her initial stint at Monmouth, she worked in radio sales, for the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center and for Cottage Home Health before joining CSC’s staff.

Talbott and her husband, Mark, live outside of Galesburg with their two children.
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