We assumed co-chairmanship of the volunteer Dean’s Development Council (DDC) in the spring of 2015, and had been involved with the college since 1997, primarily through the scholarship we established. As a former educator and guidance counselor, I (Barbara) viewed the co-chairmanship as a great opportunity for us to further engage with the students, faculty and staff; help encourage charitable giving to the college; and to support the college in its efforts to graduate outstanding educators.
The council is composed of 15 members of fairly diverse majors and backgrounds, all with a strong commitment to the council mission and the college’s goals. Formal meetings are held in the spring and fall, and we stay in touch with Dean David Monk and Development Director Simon Corby and his staff via monthly conference calls. We all have assumed responsibility for individual initiatives that range from assisting the development staff in the stewardship of donors to actively participating in meetings with the staff and prospective donors. Last year, the DDC and Alumni Society Board partnered to continue to improve communication between the groups and to find potential common objectives and activities.
Penn State is in the middle of the “Greater Penn State” fundraising campaign. The development staff has done an outstanding job in meeting their annual objectives and the Dean’s Development Council has provided whatever assistance needed. However, we still have a way to go. The average debt a student carries after graduation is in the $40,000 range. Roughly half of the college’s students receive some financial aid. It’s one of our visions that this burden be reduced substantially through the generosity of Penn State alumni and supporters. Contact the Development Office if you are interested in volunteering or supporting us as we move forward in the campaign.
Barbara (1970) and David Kucharski (1970)