Jennifer Johnson Gilnett ’81, director of University Communications since 2002 and senior editor of SPU's Response magazine, died Thursday, September 11, 2014, after suffering a swift and severe illness. A celebration of her life and legacy will be held at First Free Methodist Church, adjacent to the SPU campus, on Tuesday, September 23, 2014, at 11 a.m. A live stream of the service will be available when the event begins. Additionally, you can read a longer remembrance of Jennifer and post your own memories of her at Response online.
Having first served SPU as a work-study student employee, Jennifer was hired by the University as a full-time staff member even before her graduation. She served SPU for 32 years, with only a two-year break to pursue graduate study. During her decades of service, she strove to raise the standards of excellence in SPU publications and communications to myriad audiences inside and outside the community. Her colleagues honored her as Exempt Staff Member of the Year in 1997, and she received the President’s Award for Excellence in 2002.
Over the past several years, under Jennifer’s guidance, the University Communications team has brought home more awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) than any other institution in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada (including, in 2009, the highest CASE award — the Grand Crystal — for SPU’s etc magazine). Further, Jennifer was the beloved wife of 29 years to Kim Gilnett, fine arts marketing associate and admissions counselor for SPU.
In lieu of flowers, gifts to support the Jennifer and Kim Gilnett Scholarship Endowment will be gratefully received. Please designate your gift in that name.
Posted: Monday, September 22, 2014