Biography
After earning his undergraduate degree in politics from Willamette in 2006, Tyler continued his work with Oregon State Senator Dr. Alan Bates, DO. He served nearly eight years as medical clinic manager, personal assistant, and, ultimately, as chief of staff in the Senator's legislative office. Tyler returned to Willamette in 2007 as a leadership gift officer for the Willamette Annual Fund. Tyler served in multiple positions, finally as the Director of the Willamette Annual Fund, helping to achieve record years in dollars raised while leading the team.
In March 2013, Tyler joined Occidental College in Los Angeles as Assistant Vice President for Alumni Engagement. He served as leader of the Oxy Annual Fund, Alumni and Parent Engagement, Engagement Communications, and Donor Relations programs there. Tyler's efforts helped Occidental achieve record growth in raising unrestricted support for the annual fund, increasing dollars raised by 60 percent in three years. An expansion in alumni and parent engagement saw record participation in alumni reunions, homecoming, family weekend, and regional and virtual activities. Across all three programs, alumni and parent volunteer activity grew threefold. Tyler was named Associate Vice President for Alumni and Parent Engagement in 2015.
Tyler returned home to Willamette in 2016. Throughout his tenure, Tyler has supervised the Willamette Annual Fund, Alumni and Parent Engagement, Donor Relations & Stewardship, and Advancement Communications teams. He also served as publisher of the University's alumni magazine, Willamette. The publication has earned numerous national awards.
As Associate Vice President for Advancement, Tyler provides general leadership focused on day-to-day operations for the Advancement division in close partnership with the Vice President and Senior Executive Director of Advancement Information Strategies. He oversees the Development and University Relations (Alumni & Community Engagement and Advancement Communications) teams. Additionally, he also serves as a principal gift officer.
Successes during Tyler's current tenure include the University's most significant fundraising years, securing the University's largest outright gift, multiple years of record growth for the Willamette Annual Fund--increasing total dollars raised by 66 percent between 2017 and 2025, increased engagement of alumni and friends through nationally recognized virtual programs and in-person events, and an expansion of volunteerism by more than 200 percent during the same period. In June 2023, Tyler was recognized as one of the 50 Champions of Advancement by Almabase.
When away from work, Tyler enjoys spending time with his wife, Katie (Bechtel) BA'06, MBA'12, and their two daughters. He also serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Abiqua School, the leading Pre-kindergarten through 8th grade independent school in the Mid-Willamette Valley.