The quarterly newsletter of Princeton AlumniCorps | Fall 2024
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The quarterly newsletter of Princeton AlumniCorps | FALL 2024
Greetings,
As we dive into the holiday season, we’re celebrating the outstanding achievements of 2024 while looking forward to an exciting year ahead. We’re delighted to announce that the 2024-25 Project 55 Fellowship cohort directory, On The Path is now available online. AlumniCorps is deeply grateful for our cohorts, composed of talented, mission-driven young professionals dedicated to advancing equitable, sustainable strategies across communities nationwide.
As AlumniCorps continues to grow, we’re thrilled to introduce our newest team members, Mary Simms, who joined us in October as our Development Officer and Mateusz "Matt" Pitrus, who joined us in November as our Senior Office Administrator. We’re also pleased to announce that this past September, we welcomed three new board members, Mark Goldstein ’18, Alison T. Gray '88, and Madeleine "Maddy" Woodle ’13. Please join us in welcoming Mary, Matt, Mark, Alison, and Maddy to the AlumniCorps community!
This Giving Tuesday, December 3rd, AlumniCorps is grateful for the opportunity to nurture and engage leaders of all ages in advancing social change. If you’re inspired to support AlumniCorps in a lasting way, consider making a recurring gift. As part of this dedicated community, you’ll join others who recognize the profound impact of empowering young professionals as changemakers. Not ready to commit long-term? A one-time gift is also a meaningful way to contribute. Every donation brings us closer to our mission, and we thank you for being part of our community.
We are thrilled and excited to step into 2025 and celebrate Princeton AlumniCorps’ 35th Anniversary! We will kick off our year long celebration on Friday, May 23, 2025 with a special Anniversary and Princeton Class of 1955 70th Reunion celebration. For those of you in and around Princeton, please join us for this special event and get an exclusive look inside the strategic vision of Princeton AlumniCorps.
Thank you once again for your belief in the work of Princeton AlumniCorps. On behalf of our staff and Board, we wish you a joyful and safe holiday season.
In community,
Executive Director
Don't forget to check your inbox this Giving Tuesday and stand with us to champion Civic Leadership.
Meet Our New Staff!
Mary Simms Mateusz Pitrus
Development Officer Senior Office Administrator
Mary Simms came on board with the Princeton AlumniCorps Team in October 2024 as the Development Officer. A proud graduate of Indiana University, where she earned a B.S. in Public Affairs, Mary’s journey has always been about serving the communities around her. After dedicating a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Wood River Community YMCA in Ketchum, Idaho, her love for the mountains and the close-knit vibe of the Wood River Valley led her to dive into fundraising to support local causes. Mary's passion for these mountain communities also inspired her to write an article featured in Forbes, Crisis in Paradise, shining a light on the critical issue of food security in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Mary brings a wealth of fundraising experience that spans a diverse range of projects. Everything from supporting a transformative $10 million capital campaign to building meaningful relationships that inspire generosity and exceed annual fundraising goals. She's a pro at crafting and managing grants programs with both public and private funding sources, and has a deep well of experience in designing and executing annual development plans. Mary has led CRM transitions that made donor engagement smoother and more impactful, while juggling event planning, annual appeals, and multi-channel fundraising campaigns. For her, it’s all about making sure every donor feels deeply connected to the mission and confident in the difference their support is making.
Having recently relocated to New Jersey to be closer to family, friends, and music, Mary shares her home on Long Beach Island with her partner, their cat, Delta, and their dog, Lucille.
Mateusz “Matt” Pitrus recently joined the Princeton AlumniCorps team in November 2024 as the organization's Senior Office Administrator. Matt was born in Poland but raised in Central Jersey, where he still currently resides. Matt received his B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in 2010 and returned to earn his Master’s in Public Policy in 2014. Matt brings with him a variety of experience across non-profit and private sectors including but not limited to, non-profit program coordination, grant/proposal writing, grant program delivery, office administration, and project management. In his free time, Matt enjoys numerous hobbies including strength training, boxing/MMA, hiking, tennis, video gaming, Marvel and DC media, and improving his mechanical and home improvement skills in his spare time.
Meet Our New Board Members!
Alison T. Gray '88 Madeleine 'Maddy' Woodle '13 Mark Goldstein '18
Alison has been a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area since 1988. She retired in 2023 after a career in fundraising for community benefit organizations. She raised money for a major university medical center’s cancer center, several hospitals and arts organizations, and even a zoo. Alison graduated from Princeton in 1988.
Maddy Woodle (she/her) loved Project 55 so much that she did two fellowships in Chicago: one at the Illinois State Board of Education (2013-14), and another at LISC's New Markets Support Company, where she stayed on for 2.5 additional years (2014-17). She later served as Chair of the Chicago Area Committee and on the Board Nominating Committee. She credits Princeton AlumniCorps for kickstarting her career in the nonprofit sector, introducing her to civic-minded alumni, and smoothing the transition from college to a new job in a new city. Maddy Graduated Princeton in 2013.
Mark Goldstein grew up in Boston and graduated from Princeton in 2018. He was a P55 Fellow for one year at Philanthropy U, a nonprofit education technology organization based in Oakland, California. After a second year there, he worked for the Wisconsin Democratic Party as a Field Organizer during the 2020 campaign.
Find out more about our board members in the 2024-25 Board Directory.
Project 55 Fellowship Program
Image Caption: Project 55 Fellows, Mentors, and Area Committee in Chicago
The 2024-2025 Project 55 Fellowship program is in full swing! Fellows are working passionately in social impact at our incredible partner organizations across the country. This year, Project 55 delivers the following core features for Fellows: Civic Leadership Curriculum, Mentorship, and Community Connection with Area Committees. These fundamental features are essential in shaping the fellowship experience. We welcome you to learn about our incredible FY25 Project 55 cohort in our fellowship directory: On the Path To Civic Leadership.
In addition to Fellow programming, we are excited to launch our first-ever Partner Learning Community for Project 55 partners and supervisors! The Project 55 Partner Learning Community is dedicated to enhancing the experience and impact of our partners by providing a collaborative environment for continuous learning and development. Our most recent quarterly community meeting focused on fostering accountability, promoting work-life balance, and providing effective support for Fellows.
Know a Princeton Senior or Recent Alum who might be interested in becoming a Project 55 Fellow? Encourage them to apply today on our website.
AlumniCorps is also recruiting civic and community organizations to host Project 55 Fellows in 2025-2026! If you or someone in your network leads at a nonprofit or government agency that might want to host a Fellow, please encourage them to contact our team at programs@alumnicorps.org. Organizations interested in becoming a partner can learn more at our website.
Emerging Leaders Program
AlumniCorps proudly welcomed our 2024-2025 Emerging Leaders cohort at the CUNY School of Professional Studies in New York City!
This diverse cohort of 14 leaders from 13 diverse organizations across the Northeast convenes monthly with our Lead Facilitator, Jayson Council, for networking, learning, and resource-sharing sessions that foster personal and professional growth.
Our program curriculum spans four key quarters
Self-Management & Assessments
Managing Others: DEI, Teams, Supervising
Nuts & Bolts of Nonprofit Skills
Leadership Beyond Your Current Role
Currently in our second quarter, the cohort recently engaged in a powerful session focused on Trust, Threat, and Inequity, covering essential topics like anti-racist leadership, trust-building, psychological safety, and the skills needed for holding difficult conversations. They explored privilege, racial inequity, and anti-racist practices to deepen their understanding and impact as leaders.
In addition to these sessions, the cohort is beginning their Stretch Projects—leadership practicums designed to challenge and expand their skills while tackling real-world projects relevant to their current roles. We are thrilled to support them as they embark on these projects and can’t wait to see the lasting impact they’ll have within their organizations and beyond!
We would like to extend our sincerest thanks to Hilary Joel, the visionary founder of Emerging Leaders and facilitator of Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a cornerstone of our curriculum. Hilary has been an invaluable part of the program since 2011, continuously inspiring our leaders with her dedication and expertise.
We would also like to thank Darrius Moore, Dr. Marshall Lindsey, and Nagela Dales, who have generously volunteered their time as subject matter experts and program guest speakers. Their insights and expertise have provided invaluable guidance to our cohort. Thank you all for your commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders!
Princeton AlumniCorps mourns the loss of people who have contributed their time, talent, and treasure to the organization over the past thirty years. We share the obituaries of volunteers and supporters to celebrate their dedication to civic engagement. Princeton AlumniCorps supporters can read classmate memorials and timely class news on the class website.
