The University Advancement program at Sacramento State has appointed Lisa Woodward-Mink as the new Director of Planned Giving.

The job of the Director of Planned Giving is to be the vehicle by which donors and alumni can give to the university through estate plans and wills.

Vice president of University Advancement Vince Sales explained that it is typical for these donors to bequeath something to the university after they pass away. Sales is looking forward to Woodward-Mink joining the team.

“She is well qualified for the position and I’m optimistic that she will fit in very well,” Sales said. “Higher education is not unfamiliar to her.”

Woodward-Mink earned her appointment through years of work in the higher education field. She worked for UC Davis since 1999, after spending 12 years as a paralegal and administrator with two California law firms. After a three-year break from higher education while working for Mercy, Woodward-Mink is back on university ground.

“I love being back on campus and around students,” Woodward-Mink said. “There are so many things going on here on campus (and) every day I’m finding a new program and learning something new.”

Woodward-Mink’s years as a professional in Sacramento and the surrounding areas have given her an extensive network within the community. Friend and fellow professional Fran Baxter-Guigli, former director of development operations at Sac State, has been following Woodward-Mink’s career as it has brought her to this new position.

“I was thrilled when I heard Lisa was hired as the planned giving director,” Baxter-Guigli said. “I’ve known her for a number of years and she is a true professional. She is smart and compassionate and she will do an excellent job. (I predict) continued and increased engagement (within the community). (I have) real confidence in the direction of the university and especially the advancement efforts.”

Woodward-Mink has strong connections to the Sac State community as her husband is an alumnus and she has lived in Sacramento for 14 years.

Sales said, “(Woodward-Mink) has extensive contacts in the community. She volunteers (and) is a professional member of the planned giving forum. She can hopefully bring us more connections between Sac State and the community.”

Woodward-Mink said she plans on taking advantage of her soft spot for Sac State by engaging current and graduated students.

“With Sac State, I think that you can really change a lot of people’s lives. With tuition and fees rising, there’s potential in the community to help students,” Woodward-Mink said. “One of 24 residents of Sacramento are Sac State graduates and I know a lot of graduates (who) I want to get engaged into the campus. (I want to get) people here on campus to see the changes and be proud of the university.”

Woodward-Mink said she is especially looking forward to using her position to help with the Guardian Scholars program.

“(The Guardian Scholars programs) is for students who were in foster care and they’ve aged out of the system and have been accepted into college. I’m very interested in personally helping with that program” Woodward-Mink said.

As Woodward-Mink’s tenure here begins, Baxter-Guigli said she is seeing a mutual happiness in the future of Woodward-Mink’s cooperation with Sac State.

“I think there will be rewards on both sides from Lisa joining the campus,” Baxter-Guigli said. “I think alumni and donors will love working with her and she will love working with them.”