Editor's Note: This story originally appeared in AlumnInsider, the Penn State Alumni Association's monthly member e-newsletter. You can click here for information on becoming a member, and you can follow the Alumni Association on Facebook and Twitter for more stories and updates on events.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Pennsylvania native Paul Clifford will begin his new role as chief executive officer of the Penn State Alumni Association in January 2016, becoming the 11th chief executive of the Alumni Association.
The Alumni Association recently talked with Clifford for an exclusive Q&A, in which Clifford discusses his vision and expectations for connecting with the global Penn State community. Check out that conversation below. For the official release naming him the Alumni Association’s next chief executive, visit the Alumni Association's website.
Penn State Alumni Association: What do you remember about visiting Penn State as you were growing up, and what’s your earliest memory of Penn State? Paul Clifford: I remember my first football game coming down to campus with a friend that I played baseball with, and his dad and my dad. I remember I painted my face blue and white, and it was the greatest thing ever. I was so excited to be part of this big experience, so I remember the football games; I came for (former men’s basketball head coach) Bruce Parkhill’s basketball camp one year; we came for the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in the summer a couple of times. Those are the memories I have, but the football trips had very little to do with Penn State football and were more about spending time with family. They were about how my dad was building our family and how he was building our relationship.
Penn State Alumni Association: You’ve talked about the importance of relationships. What is your alumni engagement approach, and does that drive your connection with people on a personal level? Paul Clifford: I really see the work that I do as connecting people to the University in ways that are meaningful to them. First and foremost, that starts off by listening. You listen to hear what they’re interested in and where their passions lie, and then you connect them in ways that are going to be meaningful to both them and the institution.
Penn State Alumni Association: You said recently that the chief executive officer of the Penn State Alumni Association is the most coveted, respected position in the business. What makes this position so special, and how do you hope to capitalize on the resources you’ll have available?Paul Clifford: The Penn State Alumni Association is where it is because of the people who came before me. During the past 30 years, previous Penn State Alumni Association Executive Directors, including Peter Weiler, Diane Ryan and Roger Williams, have elevated this organization to be the envy of not only the Big Ten, but also the entire country. I’m a competitive guy, so as I got into this business — even early on — I was always looking toward Penn State to see what they were doing because I love Penn State. Then I realized that the best was where I grew up and in my backyard. So, Penn State always became the aspiration. I think the organization has risen to the top because of the phenomenal work of those who have come before us.
Penn State Alumni Association: When you arrive somewhere new, how do you find a balance between recognizing what’s already in place while simultaneously injecting new energy and ideas?Paul Clifford: This role is really different than any other role I’ve ever had. Previously, I was the first one in that role (University of Connecticut and James Madison University); or there was nowhere to go but up (East Carolina University); or the University of Oregon, where they weren’t looking for a traditional alumni association, but instead they wanted a more innovative model. Penn State is a really different challenge that I’m excited about, because it’s taking something that’s already great and trying to keep it there. It’s really exciting, and it gives me energy. I think that we have to go 100 miles an hour all the time, not just to keep up but to stay ahead.