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Upon leaving each session, I feel empowered, effec-
tive, and enlightened as I head back to my vocation.
The tools gained serve as catalysts to my leadership
awareness and promote growth along this path to be-
ing a complete leader.
-Julian Forde, 2014 Emerging Leader
In February, members of the AlumniCorps community,
along with our supporters in the nonprofit and public sec-
tors, gathered in New York City and Washington, DC, to
celebrate the newly-graduated Emerging Leaders class of
2014. AlumniCorps Board and staff members, Emerging
Leaders program alumni, employers, advisers, family mem-
bers, and other supporters helped to honor the participants’
accomplishments and the program’s success. The receptions on February 20th in Washington, DC,
and February 27th in New York marked the completion of
the program’s third year. Last June, the new group of par-
ticipants began gath-
ering for monthly ses-
sions to develop their
skills in the nonprofit
and public sectors.
Participants were
coached in such ar-
eas as nonprofit fi-
nancial reporting,
presentation skills,
and fundraising fundamentals through skill-based activities
and discussions with subject experts. For other topics that
relate to emotional intelligence and team dynamics, pres-
entations and best practices were combined with experien-
tial learning and peer group collaboration. The goal of the
program is to build the capacity of the participants, and the
nonprofit and public sectors as a whole, as well as to ad-
dress complex public issues by equipping talented young
Winter 2014 Volume 17, Issue 1
Continued on Page 2
Princeton AlumniCorps is gearing up for its 25th anniver-
sary! From May 2014 to May 2015, a year-long series of
programs will celebrate and deepen our partnerships, mo-
bilize our growing alumni community, and affirm Alumni-
Corps’ record of inspiring civic leadership.
The anniversary programs will kick off with a half-day
conference held at American University in Washington, DC
on May 3, 2014. Our panelists and keynote will address the
theme of “Living the Nonlinear Life.” From young alums
positioning themselves for leadership to experienced alums
looking for new ways to get involved, this event will appeal
to anyone who is looking to answer the challenge Ralph
Nader ’55 issued to his classmates in the spring of 1989:
What are you going to do with the rest of your life?
Area committees are busy planning events in other re-
gions that will be similarly inspirational, provocative, and
engaging. In collaboration with partners at the University
we will host a conference on campus in 2015 and cap off
the year with a gala at Reunions 2015. Stay tuned for more
information about an event near you!
Please join us for a year of events celebrating 25 years of building civic leadership!
May 3rd: Living the Nonlinear Life
A half-day conference in Washington, DC focused on the many paths to public service.
October 28th: 25th Anniversary Event
in Chicago
Fall 2014 and Spring 2015: Regional Events in New York, San Francisco, and Boston
Early 2015: Public Service Conference in
Princeton Connect with other alumni, faculty, and students who
are working on public issues. Dive into causes you care
about and be challenged to take action.
May 28th, 2015: 25th Anniversary Gala!
2
The 2014-15 Emerging Leaders
Application is now open!
The Emerging Leaders program is offered in New York and Washington, DC beginning in
June of 2014.
Applications are due March 15th and are open to
Graduates of any college or university
With 2-8 years of full-time work, including at least one year in the nonprofit sector
Who are currently employed in the nonprofit sector and have some degree of manage-ment responsibilities.
managers with the skills to launch them into leader-
ship roles.
Addressing the attendees in New York, Alumni-
Corps President Kathy Miller ’77 spoke about the
value and uniqueness of the program: “Emerging
Leaders provides participants with a framework for
developing the innate leadership talent of our partici-
pants and how they can use it effectively... In addi-
tion to hard skills like how to fundraise or pitch an
idea, what makes the Emerging Leaders program
unique is that it gives participants a space to learn
the interpersonal perspective needed to be a
leader.”
Many employers were in attendance at the cele-
brations. Rachael Peters, New York City Executive
Director of Peer Health Exchange, Inc., described
the significance of the program to her organization.
“There aren’t resources for professional develop-
ment for leaders at this level, so Emerging Leaders
was a comprehensive, affordable, and thoughtful
option that made sense. This program has been
great in that we recognized our employee as a
leader and she has already brought lessons from
Emerging Leaders back to our team,” Rachael said.
“The most impactful part has been the peer-to-peer networking. I think we formed a special team of incredible people with incredible talent who will continue to foster each other as the years go on.” Samara Berger
2014 Emerging Leader
AlumniCorps President Kathy Miller ’77, Emerging Leader Caitlin Moth-erway, and Program Leader Margaret Crotty ’94 in New York
DC Emerging Leaders and Program Designer and DC Lead Facilitator Hilary Joel ’85
DC Lead Alumni Volunteer Elizabeth Lindsey *07 congratulates Trevor Lewis on completing the program
3
Since October 2010, the Community Volunteers program
has matched experienced Princeton alumni to high-impact
pro bono projects in the nonprofit sector. Community Vol-
unteers projects and events have engaged alumni in New
Jersey, Chicago, New York, and Washington, DC, with a
focus on graduates from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s.
As the program has grown, it has become clear that par-
ticipating alumni do more than just volunteer their time and
talent. They bring years of perspective and expertise to
bear on important projects or persistent challenges with our
nonprofit partners. They draft strategic plans, secure major
new sponsorships, advise on tricky legal matters, and pro-
pose program improvements. To better express the range
and impact of Community Volunteers, AlumniCorps has
given this program a new name: ARC Innovators.
The inspiration for the name comes from a simple de-
scription of what alumni in the program do: Apply expertise.
Renew commitment. Create change. The projects selected
for this program
require creative
thinking and spe-
cialized skills to
arrive at solutions
that help partner
organizations meet
their missions more
effectively. For this
reason, alumni who
participate in the
program are known
as Innovators.
Alumni Innova-
tors complete a
meaningful project
that has a positive
impact on the part-
ner organization.
They also hone
their profes-
sional skills, de-
velop new con-
nections in the
sector, and clar-
ify their own
sense of mission
and value. ARC
Innovators is
designed for
a l umni who
have significant
professional experience and want to commit 2-6 months to
working closely with senior management at a nonprofit or-
ganization in their community. The program is a pathway to
action for alumni who meet these criteria, especially those
who are:
Reentering the workforce after raising a family
Building a resume to help with a job search
Planning a career change into the nonprofit sector
Approaching retirement
Exploring a public issue in more depth
Getting more involved in their local community
Looking for a project to add meaning
With this new name comes new energy. Thanks to the
Chet Safian Innovation Fund, ARC Innovators is expanding
in 2014 with projects in New York City and Washington,
DC. The program is currently taking applications for the first
round of six New York projects and five new projects in
Princeton. DC projects will be announced later this spring.
Marci Alboher, Anne Tergesen ’86, Karen Ali ’78, and Sharon Keld ’80 discuss career transitions at the ARC Innovators kick-off in NYC
Interested in becoming an ARC Innovator?
For information about projects in your area and to read profiles of past Innovators,
visit the ARC Innovators page at:
www.alumnicorps.org
Grif Johnson ’72 volunteering at Wilderness Leadership and Learning (WILL)
Eloise Salmon ’07 served as a PP55
fellow at Partnerships for Public Ser-
vice. She now serves as Lead Alumni
Interviewer. This January, 12 alumni
interviewed would-be PP55 fellows
from a record pool of 158 applicants.
I can hardly believe almost five
years have passed since my Project
55 Fellowship. Four years of medical
school and eight months of residency
later, I am more convinced than ever that my fellowship
year fostered personal growth that has increased my ser-
vice impact as a pediatrician-in-training.
One way I have chosen to say “thank you” to Project 55
is by returning to Princeton for a day or two each January
to take part in the applicant interview process. Just as
speaking with prospective students is a highlight of the
alumni experience for many Princeton grads, I have found
participating in fellowship interviews to be a tremendously
rewarding way to remain connected to Project 55.
The intelligence, articulateness, and enthusiasm of the
applicants are not only inspiring, but also a testament to the
results of a Princeton undergraduate education. Some ap-
plicants have long pondered a career in the nonprofit world
and have particular placements in mind to build a specific
skill set; others simply value public service more generally
and see the fellowship as an ideal way to gain professional
experience while continuing the search for their own career
path. In either case, a key piece of every interview is a dia-
logue about which organizations might offer the best
fit. This focus on everyone winning sets the Project 55 in-
terview process apart, and allows the interviewer to do
more than just ask questions and take notes – you have
the privilege of introducing soon-to-be-alumni to possibili-
ties they may not have previously considered.
As you look ahead to January 2015, I would encourage
all Project 55 alumni, and especially those in New York,
New Jersey, or Philadelphia, to see if their calendars will
permit spending a day in Princeton for applicant interviews.
You will connect (or re-connect) with other Project 55
alums, learn about the newest fellowship placements, and
be reminded what it was like to have life after Princeton be
an unknown. I promise you will not regret taking the time.
4
Last fall, Melissa Frey Mazin ’91 and Craig Mazin ’92 joined with Scott
Taylor ’75 to challenge Project 55 alumni to raise $15,000 for AlumniCorps before
the end of 2013. Thanks to 93 PP55 donors, we successfully raised $15,888 and
received $15,000 in matching funds! We are grateful to all of those who contributed
to this effort. To meet our participation goal, we need to receive gifts from another
100 alumni in the second half of the year. We are asking all former PP55 fellows and
interns to make a contribution before June 30, 2014.
On February 23, members of the Keystone Society came to Princeton for a break-
fast honoring individuals who have made a planned gift to AlumniCorps. Professor
Stan Katz h’21 spoke with the group about philanthropic trends and the Giving
Pledge. Kathy Miller ’77 and Sharon Keld ’80 were inducted as members.
Prior to the Keystone breakfast, we talked with Jim Gregoire ’69 about his deci-
sion to join the Keystone Society. Jim was the first non-’55er to join the AlumniCorps
Board, due to his leadership in community service for the Class of ’69. He was also the head of the AlumniCorps Finance
Committee for many years. He said that he and his spouse Jane felt that it was important to demonstrate a long-term com-
mitment to the financial strength of the organization. They won’t be around in fifty years, but AlumniCorps will, and they want
to do their part to make sure that happens. They hope that their gift will be one of several that will double the size of the en-
dowment and therefore contribute substantially to the annual operating funds. “We should all have an estate plan,” Jim
noted, “and we encourage you to put Princeton AlumniCorps in yours.” To learn more about the Keystone Society and how
you can become a member, contact Sharon Keld ’80, Development Officer, at [email protected].
As of February 7, Princeton AlumniCorps has raised over $325,000 from 360 donors. We are grateful to all of our donors
and volunteers, and we thank you for your support! Our goals are to raise a total of $387,000 by June 30. If you haven’t sent
in your gift yet, please consider a gift now!
Keystone Society members at the annual breakfast
5
Jasmine Jeffers ’11 joined the AlumniCorps team in January 2014 as our new Outreach
Coordinator. She will be working to energize PP55 alumni and broaden the reach of Alumni-
Corps, priorities identified in the 2013-16 strategic plan.
Before joining the staff at AlumniCorps, Jasmine worked as a development staff member
for two different nonprofits in the New York City area: the New York Common Pantry and as
a PP55 fellow at New Heights Youth. Jasmine’s experiences as a fellow directly informed her
decision to transition to this role. She is looking forward to connecting with inspiring individu-
als from every corner of the AlumniCorps community. Since entering this role, she has met
with alumni from every several class years and professional sectors and has consistently
been impressed with Princetonians’ passion for public service and their commitment to creat-
ing positive change. Her identity as a Princetonian and a nonprofit development professional influence her approach to
the Outreach Coordinator role since she feels personally invested in the AlumniCorps community and has the experi-
ence needed to empower other alumni and translate enthusiasm into positive action.
Jasmine Jeffers ’11, Outreach Coordinator
Sharon Keld ’80, Development Officer
Sharon is a long-time AlumniCorps mentor in Chicago and a habitual volunteer. With a
professional background in marketing, a few years ago she began to feel the desire to
make a professional move that would combine her marketing skills and expertise with the
reward she felt in volunteering. She joined the Peace Corps and served in Morocco as a
small business development volunteer, helping artisans with small business. She also did
two short-term stints in marketing at Habitat for Humanity Philippines and then in public
relations at Millennium Challenge Account-Armenia.
The Development Officer position at AlumniCorps appealed to her because it combined
not only her desire to apply marketing expertise in a nonprofit setting, but also her love of
Princeton and Princetonians. What appealed to her while interviewing was the passion of
the staff members and the volunteers as well as the way that AlumniCorps changes the lives of the program par-
ticipants.
With the 25th anniversary approaching, Sharon feels that she has joined the organization at a good time. She
is looking forward to events celebrating that milestone and to helping chart the plans for the future of alumni-
driven civic leadership.
Caryn Tomljanovich, Program Coordinator, ARC Innovators
Before joining AlumniCorps in November 2013, Caryn had a diversity of experience in the
nonprofit and academic sectors. She has experience in development and fundraising work
for an art museum and local land preservation organization and has worked extensively on
grant writing, program development, marketing and implementation in local community and
economic development organizations. For several years, she worked at Colgate University
to design and implement the strategic plan for the Upstate Institute which connected stu-
dents and faculty with civic engagement projects in the Central New York region.
Caryn says the energy and enthusiasm of the people in the organization appealed to her.
She loves the idea of helping people connect to organizations and experiences that can
have a positive impact on their lives and the long term well being of the nonprofit. She is looking forward to see-
ing the program grow and see the potential that it has for the future as well as making the first ARC Innovator
matches in New York and Washington, DC.
Princeton AlumniCorps is excited to welcome three new staff members to our team: Jasmine Jeffers ’11,
Caryn Tomljanovich, and Sharon Keld ’80, all of whom joined the staff in the last five months.
In October, fellows got together to enjoy a historic San
Francisco walking tour of the Embarcadero neighborhood
(titled “Making Waves on the Waterfront”). The tour ex-
plored both popular attractions and hidden gems along the
Bay, while providing colorful history and interesting trivia
about the area. It was a unique opportunity for recent (and
not so recent) transplants to the area to learn something
new and discover new spots in SF!
In November, Princeton AlumniCorps Bay Area and the
Princeton Club of Northern California collaborated to host
a panel and mixer on Careers in Social Impact for fellows
and other Princeton alumni. Featured panelists included
Emily Chiswick-Patterson ’05 (former PP55 fellow, cur-
rently at Isaacson Miller), Josh Brankman ’99 (Executive
Director of Outward Bound California), Rachel Zwillinger
’05 (legal fellow at the Natural Resources Defense Coun-
cil), and David Veneziano (CFO/COO at ZeroDivide.org).
The panelists shared their experiences in the nonprofit
and social sectors, provided guidance on career paths,
and answered tough questions from the audience about
the pros and cons of working in social impact. Future
events include a similar seminar on the topic of education
reform.
6
The Chicago weekly seminar series has continued to
thrive, with recent seminars at the Center on Halsted,
Academy for Global Citizenship Charter School, Asset-
Based Community Development Institute, Lawndale Chris-
tian Legal Center, Crossroads Fund, and Greater Chicago
Food Depository. The Greater Chicago Food Depository
seminar has been one of the favorites of the year so far,
as fellows had an opportunity not only to learn about the
organization but also to volunteer. In total, the Project 55
fellows, along with fellows from Northwestern University
and University of Chicago Public Interest Programs and
other volunteers, sorted 19,000 pounds of apples for distri-
bution.
On February 10, we hosted a kickoff event to start plan-
ning for Chicago's AlumniCorps 25th anniversary celebra-
tion. We had great attendance from current and former
fellows, area committee members, and other Chicago
alums. We were also honored to have Executive Director
Andrew Nurkin, Outreach Coordinator Jasmine Jeffers
’11, and Development Officer Sharon Keld ’80 from
AlumniCorps speak to us about the work of AlumniCorps
nationwide and their plans to celebrate the 25th anniver-
sary. We're looking forward to a great 25th anniversary
event this October, and we'd love to get even more volun-
teers on board to help plan. Please reach out if you'd like
to help with this exciting work!
On February 27
we hosted a happy
hour for mentors,
f e l l o ws , a n d
m e n t o r s a t
large. Fellows got
to know each
other better and
made connections
that may help
The Boston area committee organized an info session
at the end of January for prospective partner organiza-
tions. The event was co-hosted with the Center for Public
Interest Careers at Harvard (CPIC) and the Stanford SPIN
program. About 25 organizations attended.
At the end of February, a seminar cosponsored with
CPIC was held at the Phillips Brooks House at Harvard
focusing on public interest law and Andrea Campbell '04
spoke.
Our Connecticut Project 55 fellows continue their great
work. Housing Development Fund, one of our Connecticut
partner organizations, celebrates its 25th anniversary this
year. Three alumni or current Project 55 fellows, Diane
Cho '13, Sabrina Szeto ’12, and Mary Thierry ’12, are
all busy helping HDF meet its mission during this exciting
time for the organization. Nabiha Nurruzaman '13 contin-
ues her work as a Special Projects Fellow at the Norwalk
Community Health Center.
Chicago volunteers visit with John Fish ‘55
The Philadelphia Area Committee is looking to recruit
active volunteers to help grow AlumniCorps’ impact in the
region. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact
Paul Nehring ’10 at [email protected] or at
609-921-8808.
7
them as they plan for what to do
after their fellowship year.
We've been working hard to
recruit great fellowship appli-
cants to Chicago. Whitney Spal-
ding Spencer '07 met with 21
applicants in Princeton in Janu-
ary, and our fantastic communi-
cations subcommittee, mainly
Katie Thaeder '09 and Kathy
Qu '13, developed a marketing
video for the Chicago program.
The DC Steering Committee has been keeping the Pro-
ject 55 and TAN affiliate fellows quite busy in the last few
months. In November, our fellows engaged in a thoughtful
discussion on "Managing Relationships," facilitated by DC
Steering Committee Mentorship Chair Lisa Lazarus '02.
The seminar encouraged fellows to cultivate relationships
with colleagues, supervisors, and peers- both inside and
beyond the workplace. Suggestions were provided on how
to strengthen pre-existing relationships, as well as how to
identify and approach new mentors or sponsors. Many
thanks to Lisa for her excellent facilitation and fantastic
content. Thanks also to Partners for the Common Good
and DC Steering Committee Co-Chair Dana Weinstein
’12 for hosting the seminar.
In December, DC Steering Committee Social Chair Amy
Sweeny ’12 and Committee Co-Chair Dana
Weinstein ’12 hosted a holiday dinner and get-together
for PP55 and TAN Affiliate fellows at Local 16 on U St.
The venue provided the group the use of the upstairs din-
ing area and several fellows from Harvard, Washington
and Lee, and Dartmouth joined PP55 fellows and commit-
tee members for the dinner. As most fellows had been in
their positions for several months and had acclimated to
their new city and work, this event was a great chance for
them to catch up with their peers. The dinner included dis-
cussion on beginning to take ownership of work within fel-
lowship positions and on understanding the various as-
pects of public interest work from a first-hand perspective.
Altogether, it was a nice break from the pre-holiday rush!
In January, we were fortunate to continue professional
development opportunities for our fellows with a seminar
entitled "Planning Your Next Move." The seminar was co-
presented by Ari Altman '97, emeritus Chair of the DC
Steering Committee, and Annie Czerwinski of LeaderFit,
an executive search and human capital consulting firm
serving nonprofits, foundations, and social enterprises.
Annie guided an interactive dialogue to help fellows con-
sider what they are passionate about and how to structure
a career path(s) around those interests. Ari provided a
hands-on resume-crafting workshop to help best position
fellows for their future endeavors. We are grateful to both
for their expertise and generous donation of their time!
Thanks once again to Partners for the Common Good for
hosting the seminar at their offices.
Recently, the Steering Committee completed mid-year
check-ins with our fellows to find out how we can best sup-
port them throughout the remainder of the fellowship year.
Additionally, we were fortunate to be able to recruit fantas-
tic organizations and positions for next year. We are look-
ing forward to a great rest of the year and getting in touch
with our new fellows soon!
Project 55 fellowship alumni in the New York area re-
connected during a networking event planned and hosted
by Clara Botstein '07. Also, Scott Taylor '75 and Court-
ney Taylor s'75 graciously hosted a holiday party for cur-
rent fellows, recent fellows, mentors, and Steering Com-
mittee members.
In January the fellows enjoyed watching an Upright Citi-
zens Brigade improv show with fellows from the Harvard
Center for Public Interest Careers and Dartmouth Partners
in Community Service programs.
In late January fellows, mentors, and committee mem-
bers braved the freezing cold to attend a seminar at the
Architecture Research Office (ARO) featuring a discussion
and question-answer session with ARO Principal Adam
Yarinsky *87. Seminar attendees were intrigued to learn
more about ARO's proposal for the redesign of lower Man-
hattan to address rising sea levels due to global climate
change (which was featured in the Museum of Modern Art)
as well as ARO's innovative, sustainable design approach
toward cultural landmarks such as the Donald Judd
House.
This month the New York Area Committee is teaming
up with the Harvard Center for Public Interest Careers pro-
gram to host a Career Night for the fellows, during which
they will have the opportunity to mingle with and learn
from professionals representing a range of industries in-
cluding law, communications, and international develop-
ment.
John Fish ’55, Chair
Kathryn Miller ’77, President
Joe Sengoba ’10, Secretary
Charles F. Mapes, Jr. ’55, Treasurer
Thomas D. Allison ’66
Margaret Crotty ’94
Kirk Davidson ’55
Rebecca Deaton ’91
Andrew Goldstein ’06
Anne T. Goldstein ’79
Kef Kasdin ’85
Stanley Katz h’21
Debra Kushma ’80
William R. Leahy, Jr. ’66
Tom Magnus ’77
Dana Malman Warren ’03
Kathleen McCleery ’75
Arthur McKee ’90
Dominic Michel ’70
Paula J. Morency ’77
Anthony C. E. Quainton ’55
Margarita Rosa, Esq. ’74
Marsha Rosenthal ’76
Robert Sellery ’60
Judy Hole Suratt s’55
Leesy Taggart ’78
Scott Taylor ’75
Richard E. Thompson ’55
Richard O. Walker ’73
R. Kenly Webster ’55
If you would like to receive Shared Effort electronically,
please email us at [email protected]
Andrew C. Nurkin, Executive Director
Rachel Benevento, Program Director, Emerging Leaders
Jasmine Jeffers ’11, Outreach Coordinator
Sharon Keld ’80, Development Officer
Paul Nehring ’10, Program Director, Princeton Project 55 Fellowships
David Nelson, Office Administrator
Caryn Tomljanovich, Program Coordinator, ARC Innovators
PRINCETON ALUMNICORPS
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