Smeal College of Business

Cruser to lead Smeal Alumni Society Board as president

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Lynn Kennedy Cruser, a 1983 graduate of the management program, after years of service on the Alumni Society Board, began her two-year term as president July 1.

The Alumni Society Board’s main mission is to engage all Smeal graduates, faculty and friends with the college, and to provide opportunities for connection and service.

“We’re here for the Smeal alumni. Our main mission is to connect alumni not only to each other but also to our students and back to the college,” said Cruser. “As president, I plan to continue the work that all the presidents before me have done, and I also have some new, positive changes that I hope will encourage alumni to come back and feel welcome to connect with us.”

With 24 at-large directors, the board addresses issues and initiatives like the student mentoring program, the alumni awards ceremony, the forming of alumni program groups in various regions and student recruitment.

Cruser has served on the board for many years and in various capacities; her first role was as chair of the business and community task force. Most recently, she chaired the mentoring task force for two years.

“That was really my passion,” she said of the mentoring program, “because it’s connecting alumni to students. Working with the students is one of my favorite things about being involved with Smeal.”

The board is also currently working to plan a new initiative, Impact Smeal Day, which will take place on Friday, Nov. 15.

“This will be a day when all our alumni can come back and participate in a variety of sessions throughout the day,” said Cruser. “The day will include working sessions, a networking lunch and an open board meeting with updates from Dean Charles Whiteman, Director of Development Todd Sloan, Director of Alumni Relations Jennifer Eury and our task forces.”

Cruser, a Pennsylvania native, was encouraged by her parents to visit Penn State while researching universities, but after visiting she said she never looked back.

“I just loved Penn State as soon as I saw it,” she said. “I knew it was the college for me.”

The Smeal alumni network is more than 74,000 members strong worldwide, with regional business clubs in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and the Washington, D.C., metro area. For more information, visit the Alumni Relations webpage.

Last Updated September 10, 2013

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