Rachel Nelson Moeller ’88 Appointed Executive Director of Alumni Relations

Rachel Nelson Moeller ’88, Lafayette’s associate director of career services for externships and internships, has been named executive director of alumni relations at the College.

Reporting to James W. Dicker ’85, vice president for development and college relations, Moeller will lead an alumni relations program that is aligned with the College’s mission and advances the College’s goals while meeting the needs of an alumni community of more than 25,000 graduates.

Rachel Nelson Moeller '88 and Timothy Moeller '88

“I am delighted for Rachel and for the College. She brings 18 years’ experience in higher education to her new role, including eight years of dedicated and highly effective service at Lafayette,” Dicker said. “Our alumni are passionate, loyal, and highly committed to the College. They are also helpful, engaged, and ready to increase their involvement in meaningful ways, as evidenced by Rachel’s own accomplishments in career services. I am confident that Rachel will have great success managing our wide variety of alumni programs and creating innovative new avenues for our graduates to engage with Lafayette.” He noted that Moeller’s full engagement with her new responsibilities will occur following a transition period.

Moeller joined the Lafayette staff in 2003 as assistant director of career services for externships and internships and was promoted to her current position in 2006. She coordinates the Office of Career Services’ program of externships and internships for students sponsored by alumni and others.

For almost 30 years, Lafayette alumni, parents, and friends have assisted students in exploring careers by offering externships – opportunities to shadow them at their workplaces for two to five days – during interim session in January. Under Moeller’s direction, the number of alumni and others sponsoring externships has increased by more than 80 percent, as has the number of students participating in the program. Today, more than 300 students take advantage of job-shadowing opportunities each year.

Lafayette’s robust program of summer internships offered by alumni and parents also has grown significantly under Moeller’s leadership. The number of these internship opportunities available to students has increased by 80 percent since 2003. She also coordinates the distinctive Endowed Internship Stipend program, which allocates more than $50,000 each year to enable students to serve in non-paying internships and ones that entail a high cost of living.

Among additional accomplishments, Moeller has increased the number of alumni engaged in sharing their experiences, expertise, and insights about careers with current students. She also regularly assists students in all phases of the career-development process. In 2006, she was honored as Administrator of the Year at the annual Aaron O. Hoff Awards Ceremony recognizing members of the Lafayette community for leadership, volunteerism, teaching, and service.

Moeller majored in economics and business at Lafayette. She also holds a master of education degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a post-master’s Certificate in Career Development from John F. Kennedy University. Throughout her career, Moeller has been active in professional organizations, including the National Association of Colleges and Employers. She has authored articles and made presentations on a variety of topics related to academic and career advising.

Before joining the Lafayette staff, Moeller served for 10 years at Northampton Community College. She served nine years in the Office of Academic Advising, including five years as director of advising and retention, and one year as a career development specialist in the Office of Career Services. She began her career at Cedar Crest College, where she served one year as associate registrar.

Moeller also is active as an alumna. She has served as class fund manager since 2008 and served as reunion chair in 1998 and 2003. Her husband, Tim Moeller, also is a member of the Class of 1988. They are the parents of two children, Andy and Lucy.

Moeller succeeds Sherri Jones, who served as director of alumni affairs from 2005 until January of this year.