Engaging a Global Perspective

Tom Bull is on a mission to visit all seven continents. He crossed Antarctica off the list in his 30’s, a trip that altered his perspective on the world and his place in it.

“I went down there and I saw the world differently,” Bull says. “It’s not just me in Chicago, in the United States, in North America. I saw it as the whole world.”

Bull hopes to visit the last continent on his list, Africa, next summer. His travel bug was originally sparked taking a Greyhound bus from Chicago to Colorado and being fascinated by the unfamiliar landscape and people. Since then, he’s had a deep desire for adventure, exploration and learning about people, places and cultures. A holistic worldview and open-minded approach to leadership are what he brings to his work in higher education.

“Diversity has become extremely important to me ... in terms of race and gender and orientation, but also in terms of perspective and how people think and approach things."

In his new role as the Assistant Vice President of Alumni Engagement, Bull plans to get to know the Seattle University alumni community and understand their needs, challenges and connection to SU. He brings expertise in fostering meaningful alumni relationships and leading strategic fundraising initiatives from his previous work as the Executive Director of the Portland State University Alumni Association and as the Executive Director of the Edmonds College Foundation.

“One of my biggest visions is that I want students to know that the minute they come on campus, they are connected and they are part of a larger community.”  

—Tom Bull, Assistant Vice President, Alumni Engagement

“We are beyond excited to welcome Tom to University Advancement,” says Senior Vice President of Advancement Edgar Gonzalez. “His breadth of experience in higher education brings new energy and strategy to our alumni engagement team, continuing the growth of our vibrant alumni community.”

One of the challenges in alumni engagement is figuring out how people prefer to communicate across generations with the increasing prevalence of technology and social media. Bull plans to invest in research to make data-driven decisions on engagement strategies. His priority is ensuring that alumni, and the broader SU community, feel valued and connected to the university.  

Overall, Bull hopes to build a community of Redhawks that starts with the student experience, leading to a more engaged alumni base.

“One of my biggest visions is that I want students to know that the minute they come on campus, they are connected and they are part of a larger community,” Bull says.

Bull was drawn to Seattle University by the Jesuit mission of serving the community, something he is familiar with from his undergraduate education at Loyola University Chicago, also a Jesuit university. As a first-generation American and first-generation college student, Bull’s journey through higher education was different than many of his peers.

“I was always surprised how people knew how to navigate college,” Bull says. “I didn't have anyone around me guiding me. When I first went to college, it was with Chicago State University and I dropped out. I wasn’t ready.”

Several years later, Bull decided to return to college at Loyola. One of the priests there, Fr. Jerry Overbeck, S.J., provided Bull with guidance and direction that helped him succeed in his studies.

“Dropping out and coming back prepared me in many ways in terms of leadership,” Bull says. “It was making decisions, taking responsibility for those decisions, learning about those decisions and even learning about the mistakes you're making.”

Along with holding a bachelor’s in organizational development from Loyola and a master’s in strategic communications and business development from Northwestern, Bull has served on both his alma maters’ alumni boards.

When he’s not serving his community or traveling the world, Bull enjoys taking weekend trips to explore Seattle and surrounding areas. During the rainy months, his favorite thing to do is read a book in a coffee shop.