Meet Our Team

Email: jcoffey@dom.edu

Phone: (708) 524-6303

Office: Power Hall 115A

Janet Coffey is a development professional with 30+ years of non-profit fundraising experience including Major and Planned giving, annual fund, and alumni relations. She is proficient in fundraising strategies, campaign initiatives, special events, grant writing, communications, marketing, and project management. She has professional memberships with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Chicago Council on Planned Giving (CCPG).

Education
MA, Public Communication, American University
BA, American Studies with Concentration in Communications/Journalism, University of Notre Dame

Email: mdykstra@dom.edu

Phone: (708) 524-6291

Office: Power Hall 115B

Melanie Dykstra joined Dominican University as Senior Advancement Officer in December of 2007.  Prior to Dominican, she served as Director of Development for the School of Music at DePaul University, the Director of Development at St. Scholastica Academy, and the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Roosevelt University.  Currently, she serves as Assistant Vice President for Development working closely with the Vice President for University Advancement on major gifts fundraising and planned giving.

Education
BA, Music Education, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI

Email: lruiz@dom.edu

Phone: (708) 524-6296

Office: Power Hall 112

Laura Ruiz joined Dominican University in the Spring 2024, and works with Dominican's alumni, family, and friends who are interested in supporting the University philanthropically through major and/or planned gifts. Prior to joining Dominican, Laura served as a consultant in the Alumni Relations & Development department at Northwestern University supporting their Gift Agreement and Fund Management team, and as a Director of Planned Giving at the University of Notre Dame.

Education
JD, Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, IL
BA, Political Science & Economics, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN