The NC State Philanthropy Podcast

On the Season 5 finale of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Lyndenise Berdecía Rivera, chair of NC State Alumni’s board of directors, to talk about her experiences with the university and why she chooses to give back. Berdecía Rivera graduated from the Poole College of Management in 2006 and has gone on to become a consultant and digital analyst in higher education. Of all the uni...

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Chuck Flink, director of the university’s Peter A. Pappas Real Estate Development Program, to talk about his decades-long relationship with NC State as a student, faculty member, volunteer and donor. Flink is a two-time alumnus of NC State’s College of Design, where he’s currently a professor of the practice in landscape archite...

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Hyemi Sevening, assistant dean of philanthropy for the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), to learn how donors can partner in its life-changing work. CVM is an invaluable component of NC State’s land-grant efforts, enabling the university to benefit animals — and people — across North Carolina and beyond. From training tomorro...

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Courtney Hughes, director of the University Fellowships Office, to discuss how it helps NC State students and alumni further their educations. Nationally and internationally administered fellowships play an instrumental role in how Pack members Think and Do. Hughes and her office are committed to helping every applicant find the...

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Kerri Fowler, executive director of Parents and Families Services, to learn how her team helps strengthen and support the Wolfpack community. Parents and Families Services does far more than welcome the members of each new student’s personal Pack to campus during orientation, although that is an important part of its work. Throu...

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we‘re joined by Debbie Acker, director of the Shelton Leadership Center, to discuss its history and invaluable work. The Shelton Leadership Center was founded in 2002 by Gen. H. Hugh Shelton following his retirement as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A native North Carolinian and an NC State alumnus, Shelton chose to support his alma mat...

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Eva Feucht, director of the Park Scholarships program, to discuss its application process, as well as how supportive Pack members make the selection committee possible. We previously discussed Park’s history and how private support started, and continues, its extraordinary work. Now, we delve into how the program’s leaders, thro...

On the Season 5 premiere of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Eva Feucht, director of the Park Scholarships program, to talk about its invaluable role here at NC State — and a milestone it’s celebrating this fall. The Park Scholarships program was established in 1996 through the generosity of the Park Foundation, which was created by NC State alumnus Roy H. Park ’31. Following Par...

On our Season 4 finale, we’re joined by Holly Hurlburt, associate dean of the University College’s Academic Enrichment Programs, to discuss the many high-impact experiences (HIEs) available to NC State students. HIEs are a fundamental part of an NC State education, helping students live out the latter half of our Think and Do motto. From traditional study-abroad opportunities and internships to Al...

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by David Tully, Principal Librarian for Student Affordability at the NC State University Libraries. Tully has been on the Libraries’ staff for more than a decade, and in that time, he has seen countless instances of philanthropy empowering NC State students — and faculty and staff — to learn, grow and succeed without financial cons...

On this episode, we’re joined by Eliza Kiser, director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at NC State, to talk about its important work with the Wolfpack community. OLLI at NC State is a membership-based organization offering courses, lectures, study trips and events for adults 50 and older. Founded in 1991 as the Encore Program for Lifelong Enrichment, the program received an endowme...

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Bentina Terry, chair of the NC State University Foundation’s Board of Directors, to discuss the foundation and its invaluable work. A dedicated NC State alumna, Terry graduated from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences having earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a teaching option. She serves as the CEO of Southern...

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Stevie Kimmet, director of NC State’s Pack Essentials program, to discuss how donors provide for our Pack members in need — especially through a fun competition held with UNC-Chapel Hill each year. From Nov. 24 through Dec. 1, for the fourth straight year, the Wolfpack and Tar Heels will square off in the Pantry Bowl, an annual...

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Sam Cook, executive director of forest assets for the College of Natural Resources, to discuss how private support helps make these special areas possible. The college oversees 11 properties scattered across 12 North Carolina counties, enabling Natural Resources students to participate in the kind of experiential learning for wh...

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. David Hinks, dean of the Wilson College of Textiles, and Michael Ward, executive director of the North Carolina Textile Foundation, to discuss how private support is furthering the college in extraordinary ways. NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles is one of the most prestigious colleges of its kind in the world — and the o...

On the Season 4 premiere of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Belle Boggs, a professor of English in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, University Faculty Scholar and former director of NC State’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program, to discuss how private support powers the program forward. The creative writing program is a two-year, fully-funded program c...

On the Season 3 finale of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Krista Ringler, NC State’s associate vice provost and director of Scholarships and Financial Aid, to discuss her office’s work and its importance. Transcript available here .

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by NC State alumna and supporter Gayle Lanier to discuss why giving back to the university is so important to her. Lanier received a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering from NC State in 1982 and went on to hold key leadership roles in several Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries. She retired in 2018 as...

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by James B. Robertson, a Goodnight Scholar alumnus and current Goodnight Doctoral Fellow, to discuss how private support has enabled him to earn multiple degrees from the College of Sciences. Robertson has majored in statistics for many years at NC State, first as an undergraduate thanks to the financial assistance provided to him...

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Katherine Miller, the executive director of NC State’s Office of Gift Planning, to discuss planned giving and its importance to the university’s ongoing success. A bequest is a gift made through your will or trust, but it is much more than simply leaving money to NC State in your long-term financial plans. It is one of the most...

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Andy Albright, an NC State alumnus, donor and board member, to discuss why he supports his alma mater and what kind of difference he’s making. Albright graduated from the Wilson College of Textiles in 1986 and has gone on to become a successful entrepreneur, businessman, motivational speaker and author. He has also generously gi...

On this episode, we’re joined by Nick Drake, director of NC State’s Jeffrey Wright Military and Veteran Services, to discuss how private support enables our military-affiliated students to Think and Do. Drake has been the director for seven years this November and has seen a tremendous improvement in the already extraordinary program over that time — much of it thanks to the private support of mil...

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Joshua Pierce, the executive director of NC State’s new Integrative Sciences Initiative (ISI). ISI is transforming teaching, research and discovery in chemistry and other STEM fields at NC State by employing the latest technology, solving major societal challenges and training a new generation of interdisciplinary scientists rea...

On the Season 3 premiere of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Niki Theobald, director of development for the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Foundation, to discuss crowdfunding and its impact on the College of Veterinary Medicine — specifically, its Turtle Rescue Team. The Turtle Rescue Team is a student-run organization that helps treat wild turtles, as well as other reptiles a...

On the Season 2 finale of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by NC State alumnus, supporter and entrepreneur Charles Gaddy to discuss his recent Founders’ Pledge , a new way donors can help Wolfpack entrepreneurs-in-training Think and Do. Gaddy chose to give back to his alma mater in this deeply meaningful and impactful way following the recent sale of a company he cofounded with fell...