Lilya Vinglas
Wagner
Lilya Wagner is an accomplished pianist and
organist, the author of major references on philanthropic services and
fundraising as well as other books, a fundraiser extraordinaire, and a
professor at a major university. She began her career teaching music, English,
and Spanish in Seventh-day Adventist academies and now serves as director of
the Adventist church’s Philanthropic Service for Institutions, a consulting
department for Adventist organizations in the North American Division.
She also continues her
affiliation with the Lily Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University
as a philanthropic studies faculty member and trainer for the Fundraising
School.
Lilya was born in Tallinn, Estonia, and
would spend her childhood in Germany, New York City, and Bolivia, the younger
of two children of Richard Viktor and Anna Priede Vinglas. The family fled from Estonia in 1944, just ahead
of the invasion of the Russian army and after several years as refugees in various
parts of Europe, eventually emigrated to the U.S in June 1947.
Her father had been a
minister in Estonia and served as president of the Estonian Conference from the
beginning of WW II until the family left the country. They then lived in
Germany, where he served as a pastor and after arriving in New York City,
accepted an invitation to serve as principal of the Adventist school in
Bolivia, South America. They lived there from 1948 until 1954, at which time
the family returned to New York City, where he taught at Greater New York
Academy.
After graduating from GNYA in
1958, Lilya completed a B.S. degree in music at
Atlantic Union College in 1962, with piano as her performance area. She also learned to play the flute and has
continued to play it occasionally. While there she met and married John Wagner,
who was majoring in a biology and religion.
They started their careers at
Platte Valley Academy in Nebraska, where she taught music and he served as
boy’s dean. They then taught at Pioneer Valley Academy, where she taught piano
and organ for five years. During that time she completed an M.Mus. at Andrews University in 1968.
In 1970 they accepted
positions at Madison Academy in Tennessee, where she taught various subjects
and John served as principal for four years. From 1974 to 1976 Lilya worked in public relations at the Florida Hospital in
Orlando while continuing to be active in music, particularly as organist for
the Forest Lake Church.
From 1977 to 1980 she was on
the staff at the University of Florida English
Language Center in Gainesville while pursuing a doctoral degree, which was
completed in 1980. Her dissertation on
the history of peer teaching was subsequently published by Greenwood
Press. The Wagners
accepted positions at Union College in 1980 and served there until 1983, she
teaching English and directing the writing laboratory at Union College while he
served as Academic Dean.
In 1983 they moved to Collegedale,
Tennessee, where she worked as a freelancer in public relations and also as
organist for the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, and he served as
president of Southern Adventist College. They were invited back to Union in
1986 to serve as an administrative team, he as president and she as vice
president for institutional advancement.
They worked to reduce a college debt of approximately $9
million, and when they left in 1991, it had been reduced by half. Although they
left Union in 1991, the fundraising they had started resulted in complete
retirement of the debt in 1998.
While at UC, she completed an M.A. in journalism at the University
of Nebraska in 1988. Her thesis on women
war correspondents of World War II was published by Greenwood Press and
eventually became the foundation for a documentary on women’s achievements as
war correspondents.
In January of 1991 Lilya joined the newly-established Center on Philanthropy
at Indiana University, a premiere organization focusing on philanthropy and
fundraising. She served there as associate director for public service and
director of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, was in charge of curriculum
preparation and revision for The Fund Raising School (TFRS), and was a frequent
speaker and presenter in workshops.
From 1993 to 1996 she worked
as Vice President for Development at the National Association for Community
Leadership in Indianapolis while also continuing her affiliation with the
Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. She has maintained that relationship for over
twenty years and also teaches graduate classes at St. Mary’s University in
Minnesota. From 2005 to 2008 Lilya worked in international development, serving as Vice President
of Counterpart International.
Currently her full-time
employment is at the North American Division of the Adventist Church, where she
is director of Philanthropic Service for Institutions. John returned to serve as president of UC in
2011, a position he still holds.
Lilya has made numerous contributions in
research, writing, and conducting seminars - all activities that have required
extensive travel. She has written numerous articles on various topics, and
authored several books.
She is also active as a
performing musician, including a special performance of a Handel organ concerto
with orchestra to celebrate Union College’s 100th anniversary.
In addition to serving as organist for various churches when needed (extensive
on-going travel precludes a permanent position), she also plays the flute and
is enjoying her accordion, which she has played since high school and which is
experiencing a renaissance as an instrument in the United States.
Wagner has received numerous
awards for teaching, advertising, and fund-raising, including top honors from
the Council for Advancement and Support of Education in 1988 and 1990; Alumna
of the Year, Atlantic Union College in 2002; and the Association of Fundraising
Professionals Skystone Ryan Book Prize
in 2002 for Careers in Fundraising.
She was able to return to her
homeland, Estonia, in 1992 and appreciates opportunities to assist her country
by working with Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), an activity that has helped
her family, friends, and country.
ds/2013
Sources: Information
provided by Lilya Wagner, October 2013; Biographies
at NAD Health Summit, 2013, The Center of Philanthropy at Indiana University,
The Fund Raising School, and the American Entertainment International Speakers
Bureau websites; New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, Ancestory.com; Lilya Wagner, Estonia, “The Church That Bombs Couldn’t
Destroy,” Adventist Review, 17
December 1992, 12-14; Obituary for Richard Victor Vinglas,
Adventist Review, 7 April 1994, 30;
Listing of Books at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com; “John and Lila Wagner
Return to Union College,” Mid-America
Adventist Outlook, 5 December 1985, 17; Ryan Teller, “Wagner named
president of Union College,” press release, 6 February 2012; personal
knowledge.
Books and Selected
Writings by Lilya Wagner
To Linger Is to Die (A Crown
book) 1975
Peer Teaching: Historical
Perspective 1982
Doctor, Lawyer, Merchant, Chief? (Quest) 1983
Caring is Not a Spectator Sport (Lifeline) 1986
Women War Correspondents of World
War II 1989
(16)
Reprising Timeless Topics, New Directions for Fundraising
April 13, 2005
Leading Up:
Transformational Leadership for Fundraisers (The AFP/Wiley Fund Development Series) Sep 16, 2005
(14)