Maureen Kilian has been named director of development and alumni relations for Penn State’s College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST). Kilian, who served for eight years as director of major gifts for IST, accepted the position in December, bringing more than 20 years of technology and fundraising experience to her new role.
Kilian succeeds Joyce Matthews, now senior director of development for Penn State’s Eberly College of Science, who said Kilian is a significant asset to IST in such a leadership role.
“She not only has strong fundraising knowledge and skills, but also brings a diverse background from the technology field and a genuine passion for the unique role of IST,” Matthews said of Kilian. “She is well-respected by members of the dean's advisory board and has long-standing relationships with IST's most loyal donors. All of this will serve the college well as the University approaches an ambitious and impactful campaign.”
Kilian, who obtained a bachelor of science degree from Eberly, established her career working with technology businesses and small entrepreneurial organizations before joining IST’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations. She credits her success in development with the ability to understand what’s happening within the technology world and make it relatable to people at any level, to better connect them to IST and its mission.
Kilian is enthusiastic about the timing of her new position, as she takes a leadership role only months after the appointment of IST’s new dean, Andrew Sears. Her first order of business, she said, is to build a team that will work toward the dean’s goals and second is to learn about IST’s new fundraising campaign.
“The timing for this change was really prescient because of the new dean, and because we’re embarking on a new campaign that will be built upon a new strategic plan.” said Kilian. “It’s really a blank slate for what we want to make our key goals for IST fundraising, based on what we bring to the table and what kind of initiatives we want to raise money for.
“In development, people are more responsive when you can articulate what the needs of the students and the college are, and how it helps to advance Penn State,” Kilian continued. “For us, it’s easy -- IST is needed everywhere, and the fact that our students are educated in technology, business and human aspects really makes them relevant anywhere. “
Maureen Kilian is uniquely qualified to spread awareness of IST through the Office of Development’s new mission. Whatever the future brings for IST, Kilian is well positioned and enthusiastic for that challenge.