UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Over the past decade, the Penn State Alumni Association has been supported in its mission by the generosity of two families, the Schuylers and the Stengels, whose combined $2 million in gifts is reshaping the Penn State experience for students, volunteers and the alumni community.
“The generosity of the Schuylers and the Stengels has had a significant impact on the lives of the alumni and students who have benefited from their support,” said David Lieb, senior associate vice president of development and alumni relations at Penn State.
“On this 10th anniversary of their philanthropy, we can see the impact their gifts have made. What began as a desire to give back has grown into a legacy that will continue to support generations to come — connecting Penn Staters, building leaders and carrying forward Penn State’s proud traditions. We are grateful for their support and their partnership in enhancing the experience of all Penn Staters.”
Matt and Anne Schuyler
In 2014, Matt and Anne Schuyler made a $1 million gift to support the activities and initiatives of the Lion Ambassadors, the association’s student alumni corps. Matt, a 1987 graduate of the Smeal College of Business, recently concluded a four-year term as chair of the University’s Board of Trustees and joined Creative Artists Agency as chief people officer in October. He previously served as chief brand officer and in other executive roles for Hilton. Over his career, Schuyler held roles at Capital One, Cisco and PwC. He was a Lion Ambassador himself as a student, and he stays connected to the group as a mentor, speaker and motivator.
Anne is a graduate of Oglethorpe University in Atlanta and has a master’s degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She was a student in Penn State's higher education doctoral program while working full time at the University. Symbolically, her 14 years of work at the University were focused in undergraduate admissions and university development — both of which lead directly to recruiting and supporting students.
Over the past decade, the Schuyler family’s generosity has helped the Lion Ambassadors and Alumni Association play a pivotal role in upholding Penn State traditions and pride. Their gift has supported events such as "Be a Part From the Start," where Lion Ambassadors teach first-year students about University customs and ways to get involved in the Penn State community, as well as the tradition of guarding the Lion Shrine during Homecoming weekend.
By strengthening the "Senior Sendoff" event, which celebrates graduating seniors while showing how they can maintain their connection with Penn State, the Schuylers’ gift has also helped the Lion Ambassadors instill the expectation of a life-long relationship with their alma mater in several generations of Penn Staters.
Jim and Kathleen Stengel
Also in 2014, Jim and Kathleen Stengel contributed $1 million to bolster the Alumni Association’s volunteer service and engagement programs. They met at Penn State and graduated from the Smeal College of Business in 1983 and 1984, respectively. Jim is the former global marketing officer of Procter & Gamble, and in 2009 Jim and Kathleen launched The Jim Stengel Company, a consultancy and thought-leadership platform focused on leadership training and brand strategy. Over the last 16 years, their company has helped hundreds of leaders and their companies be more successful; Jim has also authored two books and created The CMO Podcast, which is the top global podcast designed for chief marketing officers.
One effort supported by the Stengels’ gift is the association’s Alumni Leadership Connections (ALC) conference, which brings together Penn State volunteer leaders from across the country.
“With the Stengel family’s support, the association has been able to create what many consider to be a national exemplar in volunteer leadership training and education,” noted Tom Hammond, executive director of engagement for the Penn State Alumni Association. Jim himself headlined the ALC conference in 2024, as he has several times over the years.
Making an impact
Penn Staters like Hunter Davey, class of 2019, have felt the impact of both transformative $1 million gifts. Funds from the Schuylers’ endowment enhanced the annual Senior Sendoff event while Davey served as a Lion Ambassador. And now, as president of the Alumni Association’s Baltimore Chapter, Davey is benefiting from programs supported by the Stengels’ endowment.
“Attending the ALC Conference helped make the Baltimore Chapter better,” Davey said. “Making just one valuable connection would have made the conference worth it, but I met probably 15 or 20 people to share ideas with.”
The personal interest the Schuylers and Stengels take in helping Penn Staters succeed also made a deep impact on Davey, inspiring him to want to have an impact on his fellow Penn Staters.
“Putting a name and a face to something that I have personally benefited from, that really hit me,” Davey said. “This stuff does not happen by accident. Often it seems like the University has a perpetual culture that will go on forever, but there are things that need to be upheld and continued to maintain that — and one of them is connecting students and alumni to the history and traditions of their University.”
Both Jim Stengel and Matt Schuyler have been named Alumni Fellows, the most prestigious honor awarded by the Alumni Association.
Donors like the Schuylers and the Stengels advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.
With more than 173,000 members, the Penn State Alumni Association is the largest dues-paying alumni organization in the world. For more than 150 years, the association has provided alumni with a strong and welcoming community representative of the Penn Staters it proudly serves. The Alumni Association keeps alumni connected to the University and to each other, while upholding Penn State traditions and supporting the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. The Alumni Association also produces the award-winning Penn Stater magazine and other publications, and offers alumni and friends volunteer opportunities, educational programming, and many other services. For more information about, visit alumni.psu.edu.