New Alumni Society Board President Ready to Lead

After more than 14 years of service with the Smeal Alumni Society Board, Suzanne Harnett '92 is now president of the board. She will lead the next board meeting scheduled for October 8-9, 2009, at University Park.

According to Harnett, her experiences at Penn State and Smeal have had a significant impact on her life, including influencing who she is today, both personally and professionally. "Over time, I've gained an even greater appreciation for the excellent education that I received at Penn State, for the culture and community of which I was a part, and for the personal connections that I made," she says.

Harnett is a senior director in Pfizer Inc.'s Investor Relations Group in New York, where she is responsible for all financial communications with the investor community. Prior to this, she was a senior director in Pfizer's Accounting Advisory Services group.

Harnett started her involvement with the Alumni Society Board as a student ex-officio member. As such, she is very familiar with the mission of the board and the importance of getting involved.

"Smeal was integral not only in preparing me for success in the business world, but also for connecting me to a larger community of alumni outside of the confines of Happy Valley," she says. "I believe there was no better way for me to give back to the college than to serve as president of the board. I want to share my experiences and knowledge from outside of Penn State with current students, faculty, and other alumni to help them further their goals and ambitions."

The Alumni Society Board's mission is to enhance Penn State's and Smeal's value and reputation by cultivating a community of active, engaged alumni; building and maintaining forums for student and alumni interaction; and providing a meaningful connection between the college and alumni.

"As president, I will work to ensure the board continues to advance its mission, as well as the strategic plan for Smeal to become one of the top five public business schools in the nation," Harnett says. "To do so, the board is going to focus on mentoring students, providing insight on the current needs of the business community, and engaging Smeal's leadership in how best to leverage the students' connections to Penn State and Smeal after they graduate."

Harnett also encourages alumni, outside of the board, to consider getting involved at Smeal: "By coming back to campus and becoming actively involved, alumni can stay connected to both the college and its tremendous alumni network, while also making a difference in the community. I always look forward to and enjoy returning to Penn State—whether I'm there to mentor students, speak to a class, attend a football game, or to simply eat at the Creamery!"

In the video on the right, Harnett shares additional thoughts about the Alumni Society Board and its role at Smeal.

More information on the Alumni Society Board and other ways alumni can engage the college is available on the Alumni Relations Web site.