I O W A S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D A T I O N

PHILANTHROPYWOMEN&

SPRING 2011

Coming Home and finding a way to make a differenCe

“Supporting a faculty position in alternative energy that will focus not only on research but teaching seemed a great way to support Iowa State.”

Margaret Harding

There was a time when Margaret

Harding felt distant from her alma

mater.

At first, it was a physical distance.

After graduating in 1981 with

a bachelor’s degree in nuclear

engineering from Iowa State

University, her career took her

thousands of miles away: first to

the West Coast, where she worked

for a number of years with General

Electric’s nuclear engineering

program; and then to the East Coast,

where she transferred to a GE office in

Wilmington, N.C.

Trips back to her home state of Iowa

were few and far between.

And when Iowa State discontinued

its nuclear engineering major,

Harding felt she had lost an important

emotional connection to the university.

Then a few years ago, a development

officer from Iowa State’s College of

Engineering paid a chance call on

Harding wanting to learn more about

where her life post-Iowa State had

taken her, including her long and

fascinating career in nuclear energy,

which had made her a national expert

in the field.

Now an energy consultant in

Wilmington, Harding makes bi-

annual trips back to campus to serve

on the College of Engineering’s

industrial advisory council. During

those visits she often serves as a guest

lecturer to engineering classes and the

Women in Science and Engineering

group.

“The College of Engineering reached

out to me and invited me to be on

their advisory council and every time

I come back I feel like a complete VIP,”

she said. “I have really enjoyed visiting

and seeing what an outstanding

education Iowa State continues to

provide engineering students.”

During her visits back to campus,

Harding learned that Iowa State was

establishing an undergraduate minor

Continued on p. 2

Margaret Harding

Our MissiOn

the iSU foundation

women & Philanthropy

program works

to educate and

encourage women

to be philanthropic

leaders at iowa State

University and in their

communities.

Coming Home and finding a way to make a differenCe

in nuclear engineering. The program

combines Iowa State classes with course

offerings from the Big 12 Engineering

Consortium.

“I think Iowa State is trying to regain

its heritage in nuclear engineering. That

really means something to me,” she said.

“During visits to campus I have been

advising them on the new minor and

giving a few guest lectures.

“It’s fun to be around the students and

see them so excited about the program.”

These connections ultimately led

Harding to come full circle with Iowa

State and for her to consider a gift to her

alma mater.

When her father passed away in 2007,

she came into an inheritance, which she

used to help create an endowed faculty

position in the College of Engineering.

The Margaret E. Harding Professorship

was established through a deferred gift. It

is one of more than 80 endowed faculty

positions created during Campaign Iowa

State: With Pride and Purpose to help recruit

and retain outstanding faculty members

on campus.

“I wanted to do something for the

university, especially since it was

making an effort to come back to nuclear

engineering,” she said. “Supporting a

faculty position in alternative energy

that will focus not only on research but

teaching seemed a great way to do that.”

isu Foundation Women and Philanthropy CommitteeColleen armstrong West Des Moines, Iowa

rhonda Christensen Alta, Iowa

Suzanna de Baca Inver Grove Heights, Minn.

kathy geoffroy Ames, Iowa

Cynthia Jeffrey Ames, Iowa

Peggy Johnson Ames, Iowa

Sharon Juon Waterloo, Iowa

Women and Philanthropy Committe members present at the Aug. 13 committee meeting, left to right, Becky Kresowik, Cynthia Jeffrey, Leslie Saftig, Dee Reinhart Vandeventer, Lora Talbot, Colleen Armstrong, and Michele Whitty

kristi knous Urbandale, Iowa

Becky kresowik Iowa City, Iowa

karol nickell Urbandale, Iowa

Leslie Saftig Ames, Iowa

Lora talbot Belmond, Iowa

dee reinhart Vandeventer, Chair Cedar Falls, Iowa

michele whitty Clive, Iowa

Coming Home and finding a way to make a differenCe

a meSSage from tHe CHair

The Power of Giving and receiving

Almost 200 individuals attended the

annual Women and Philanthropy Work-

shop on the Iowa State University campus

Wednesday, April 13, 2011. “The Power of

Giving and Receiving” featured breakout

sessions on financial topics including

charitable estate planning, investing for the

future, trends of nonprofit boards, and

family finances.

Keynote speaker Louise Sawyer, senior

advisor and visiting scholar at the Center

on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston

College, spoke on the development of

philanthropic interest and engagement.

Plans are underway for next year’s

Women & Philanthropy Workshop, which

will be held in the spring of 2012. The date,

keynote speaker and breakout sessions will

be announced at a later date.

To learn more about the workshop call

515.294.4607, email WP@foundation.

iastate.edu, or visit www.foundation.

iastate.edu.

Being back on campus in April reminded me how much I love Iowa State

in the spring. The day was beautiful. The warm sun urged the spring

buds to open. Students hurried to add the final touches to VEISHEA.

Cherry pies awaited us. And in the Scheman Building, nearly 200

women — and men — gathered to experience the power of giving and

receiving at the 11th annual Woman and Philanthropy Workshop.

We definitely lived our mission that day: to educate and encourage

women to be philanthropic leaders at Iowa State University and in their

communities. An opening session show of hands revealed that almost

half of the participants were attending for the first time. Among them

were an all-time high of 15 Iowa State students, sponsored by many

generous donors.

There’s always such a unique, vibrant energy at this workshop. Our

breakout session speakers covered topics ranging from investing wisely;

creating a solid estate plan; communicating with family members about

finances and philanthropy; and tips on how to be a great board member

and volunteer. Moreover, attendees learned not only from the expert

speakers but from one another during each session’s group discussion.

Louise Sawyer, our keynote speaker, proved to be the icing on the cake

on a thoroughly inspirational day. A lawyer, senior advisor and visiting

scholar at Boston College’s Center on Wealth and Philanthropy, and a

partner in North Bridge Advisory Group, Louise shared her research on

the development of philanthropic interest, engagement and leadership in

young women during emerging adulthood.

Louise moved us with her description of undergraduate programs that

provide young people hands-on experience by working together to dis-

tribute $10,000. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a program similar to

that at Iowa State? Read more about Louise and her work at the founda-

tion’s website at www.foundation.iastate.edu/wp.

I wish to extend my special thanks to the Women and Philanthropy

Committee for all their hard work on this year’s workshop. They are an

incredible group of women and are already developing details for the

2012 workshop. Stay tuned!

Go Cyclones,

Dee Reinhart Vandeventer ‘75Chair, Women & Philanthropy Committee

Iowa State UnIverSIty FoUndatIon

2505 UnIverSIty BoUlevard

P.o. Box 2230

ameS, Iowa 50010-2230

in THis issuE � margaret Harding � dee Vandeventer � 2011 workshop — “the Power of

giving and receiving” � women and Philanthropy Committee

What did attendees have to say about the 2011 Women & Philanthropy Workshop?

“People and women can make a difference and you should get involved when you are young.”

“i learned today that even though i am just one person, i can make a difference.”

“Very inspiring day! Loved to hear how lives can be changed.”

“the speakers had powerful messages about philanthropy, learning and development.”

“Very interesting and inspiring!”