Office of Donor Relations and Special Events
102 Old Main
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-4300 or toll free 1-877-800-6113
Fax: 814-865-7115
E-mail: specialevents@psu.edu
Kris Meyer, director, klm31@psu.edu
Peggi Baker, administrative support assistant, pmb14@psu.edu
Nancy Bostian, administrative support assistant, ngb2@psu.edu
Judy Brown, administrative support assistant, jib1@psu.edu
Chrissy Castles, associate director, development programs, ccc13@psu.edu
Lori Ebert-Tyworth, associate director of stewardship, lme7@psu.edu
Sue Gill, staff assistant, dsg15@psu.edu
Adrienne Hodges, development assistant, anb11@psu.edu
Tammy Houser, administrative support assistant, tjb17@psu.edu
Tom Penkala, associate director of special events, tjp1@psu.edu
Amy Pollock, associate director of special events, amp29@psu.edu
Kathleen Rider, director of stewardship, kmr8@psu.edu
Michelle Schafer, administrative support assistant, mls61@psu.edu
Private giving makes it possible for Penn State to touch people's lives through its teaching, research, and service to the community. It also makes all the difference in the world to students of limited financial resources who receive scholarships and graduate fellowships and to faculty who are leading the way in our classrooms and laboratories and making valuable contributions to our society.
Our office is here to serve as a resource to alumni and friends relating to their philanthropy to Penn State. We strive to understand and serve our contributor's interests in the University. We encompass four major areas:
- Donor Cultivation
- Donor Recognition
- Donor Services
- Donor Stewardship
Our mission is to cultivate, recognize, serve, and steward our donors through programs, events, and proper accountability in cooperation with other units and departments in order to help the University meet its fundraising goals and ensure its viability as one of the leading land grant institutions.
The University's preeminent individual giving recognition clubs — the Mount Nittany ($250,000 lifetime giving), Laurel Circle ($1 million lifetime giving), and Elm Circle ($5 million lifetime giving) societies — reside in our office.
We manage the President's Report on Philanthropy and all endowment reporting, and coordinate special events for University Development, the Office of the President, and the Board of Trustees.