Beth (Mitchell) Romeo ’12 has displayed her love for The University of Olivet through her service on the The University of Olivet Alumni Association Board and her strong connection to campus and current students. Now, Beth is taking her passion to the next level by serving as senior director of alumni engagement and annual giving.
“The University of Olivet is thrilled to welcome Beth back to her alma mater as senior director of alumni engagement and annual giving,” said President Steven M. Corey, Ph.D. “Beth has a strong track record of building relationships among a wide range of people, inspiring constituents of nonprofit organizations to greater participation and philanthropy, and creating and managing volunteer groups and more. Under Beth’s leadership, the Office of Alumni Engagement and the Alumni Association Board will continue to develop and execute new programs and opportunities that inspire and strengthen the Alumni Association overall.”
Beth earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and mass communication from The University of Olivet, and during her time as a student, she was involved in Greek life through the Alpha Lambda Epsilon society, serving as president of the organization; the Black Student Union, also serving as president; and was even the station manager of WOCR for three years on top of many other roles and duties with the station.
“I am passionate about The University of Olivet because my experiences as a student played a big role in transforming me into the person I am today,” Beth said. “Olivet is a special place, and I want to make sure that great opportunities are available to students and alumni for years to come. I’m excited to work with many different people and continue to build relationships. I’m open to new ideas and am looking forward to engaging alumni. Overall, my goal is to increase the connection of alumni from different generations and geographies.”
Beth says that Move-In Day and Homecoming are some of her favorite events each year — both as a student and now as an alumna — but her fondest memory of The University of Olivet revolves around a cause that has nothing to do with OC at all.
“One of my favorite memories of The University of Olivet occurred at Homecoming about two and a half years ago, after Hurricane Maria had devastated Puerto Rico,” Beth said. “Members of A Phi K hosted a luncheon during Homecoming aimed at raising funds to support relief efforts, and a great group of alumni gathered to support the fundraiser. I felt so empowered and encouraged that I was connected to a group of alumni via the College who came together to help people so far away. It’s a powerful statement about The University of Olivet and our mission.”
Following her graduation, Beth built her professional skill set in programming, public and community relations, fund development, donor relations, leadership development and marketing. She is an experienced public speaker and emphasizes the importance of relationships across diverse audiences. Before joining the The University of Olivet staff, Beth served the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) in Kalamazoo as a program officer where she managed external communications, including annual reports and social media, fund development initatives, and federal grant awards.
In addition, Beth has experience as an operations and logistics manager for YWCA Kalamazoo and programming coordinator for Public Media Network, a nonprofit media organization. Paired with her professional work, Beth has served on a number of boards and committees, including over five years of service on the The University of Olivet Alumni Association Board, serving as vice president in her recent term. Beth also holds a Master of Science in administration degree from Central Michigan University.
Personally, Beth is a member of the Kalamazoo community where she resides with her husband, Joe, and their two cats. Music has deep importance in her life, and she has been a member of a women’s chorale for several years as a soprano. In addition, she is a violinist and shares her love of music with her family.
“I’ve always wanted to stay connected to The University of Olivet, and the Alumni Association Board has been a wonderful experience,” Beth said. “I’ve served on the board for over five years, and I’ve done a lot of volunteer work with the College, ranging from making videos and hosting alumni events, to sharing the overall importance of the College and getting involved. My focus on the board has been on branding and awareness, and I served as the chair of the sub-committee on that topic. My goal has always been to increase the awareness of the Alumni Association — what it means to be a part of it and articulating those benefits. I thrive on connecting with people, and that’s the reason I’ve been involved with the board and was eager to take on the role of senior director of alumni engagement and annual giving. I want the legacy of The University of Olivet to continue, and to make an impact in the lives of students and alumni.”
Further, Beth’s service to the Alumni Association Board has allowed her to connect with Samantha Pearl ’00, the previous director of alumni engagement. Samantha is leaving the role on April 3 to support her husband, Jim, who recently became a pastor in St. Johns, Michigan.
“I’m passionate about our mission as a College in educating our students to do good in the world, and I believe the alumni director role plays a critical part in supporting that mission,” Samantha said. “I’m so thrilled that Beth is joining the team; she has the skills, the experience, and most importantly the heart to move this work forward. It’s a privilege to turn the reigns over to her.”
“It’s been a pleasure to work alongside Samantha over the past few years,” Beth said. “I’ve been inspired by her leadership and the initiative she’s taken in the role. She’s left big shoes to fill, and I’m looking forward to adding my own unique energy to the College and our team.”
Beth will begin as the senior director of alumni engagement and annual giving on April 13. While she adjusts to her role, Beth is committed to using virtual resources to deepen her connection to the alumni base. Be sure to follow The University of Olivet and The University of Olivet Office of Alumni Engagement (@OlivetCollegeAlums) on Facebook to experience all the ways to connect with Beth and the entire college community.
Learn more about Beth or the Office of Alumni Engagement be emailing alumnirelations@uolivet.edu.
Menu