It is crazy to think how quickly that last four years have flown by! I want to use this final PLA blog to share my next steps after graduating!

Starting in June, I will work at Juniata College as an Assistant Director of Major Gifts on their Advancement team. What this means is that I will have the opportunity to travel and visit alumni and donors of the college to discuss their experience and help them shape their vision for how Juniata fits into their philanthropic vision. I will be living in State College and commuting to Huntington (where Juniata is located), so if you are still in the area, feel free to reach out!

For those of you who I have discussed my future plans with previously, I’m sure it’s a big surprise that I am entering the field of higher education philanthropy rather than going to seminary to pursue my Masters of Divinity to eventually become a pastor. I am still deeply connected to my faith in God and, frankly, the decision to enter this career rather than full-time ministry work feels like a clear path that God is setting me on. I began working for the development team for the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences this summer and I learned a lot about philanthropy at Penn State. I gained a greater sense of gratitude for the many programs supported by philanthropy that have made my college experience so valuable – PLA is at the top of the list! As I began looking at grad schools, I realized that I dreading the prospect of continued learning in a classroom setting after many stressful and busy years of school. I wanted the opportunity to grow in a job where I knew that my work would have a direct impact on people’s lives. I discovered a passion for helping students achieve their goals through the support of generous donors. I can’t say that I will never pursue a Masters of Divinity, but I know that my energy should be focused on this new mission right now. I am so excited to live in State College, a fun and familiar environment, while joining the tight-knit community of Juniata College!