Can you provide us with some information about your background? Your education and career?
Peter: I grew up in Concord, New Hampshire, the State capital. Choosing to attend the University of New Hampshire, I earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics. After graduation I was drafted by the Army and stationed for two years in Heidelberg, Germany, U.S. Army Headquarters in Europe. The central location afforded me the opportunity to see most of Europe during that time and instilled in me a curiosity and appreciation of different cultures. After completing my service obligation, I returned to N.H. to teach social studies at a high school in Rochester. Next, I earned a master’s degree at Indiana University and once again returned to Rochester as a teacher and guidance counselor. Then for several years I was Assistant Director of Admissions at UNH before returning to IU to earn my Doctorate in Higher Education Administration. This time I had a wife, Joan, and two young children to accompany me. After graduating in 1970, I had the good fortune to be hired at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, first as Assistant, then Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. For my last ten years I was Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs in the central university administration serving all three campuses. What we thought might be a stop of a few years, ending up on one coast or another, turned out to be 51 years in Urbana. I feel most fortunate to have had my career here.
Joan: Norwell, Massachusetts, on the south shore near Boston, was my hometown. I also chose the University of New Hampshire for college. Peter was a senior when I was a freshman, but our paths overlapped in the Outing Club for skiing and mountain climbing. We re-met after he completed his Army service and was teaching nearby. For three months between my sophomore and junior years at UNH, I was privileged to travel in Europe, a trip which changed my life! It piqued my lifelong interest in other peoples and cultures. My bachelor’s degree was in French, and after some graduate work at Harvard University, I taught French in the junior high and high schools of Avon, Connecticut. Peter and I married after the completion of his master’s at IU and returned later for his doctoral study. When we arrived in Urbana in 1970, our children were still young, and I was a participant and volunteer in numerous community organizations. However, in 1978 I was hired by the University Library to develop private support for the 42 libraries in its system. For the next two decades I had the wonderful experience of working with donors to support one of the best libraries in the world! One of my favorite projects was developing with Walter and Gerda Mortenson, first the Mortenson Professorship followed by the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs. They donated $4 million in the 1980s to establish a library program to improve communication and achieve peace by better understanding one another. It was a transformational gift. Nearly 100 countries have participated in the program. [read more about the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs here: https://www.library.illinois.edu/mortenson/] In the 1990s I was invited by the Russian National Libraries to teach seminars on raising private support throughout the former Soviet Union. That opportunity, along with invitations to present in Turkey, China, Australia, and several other countries, gave me first-hand experience with other systems and cultures.
Can you tell us more about how you have stayed connected to the University of Illinois since your time as faculty and staff members?
Peter and Joan: We participate in programs sponsored by Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and Krannert Art Museum. We both are members of The Illinois Club. Peter organizes a monthly meeting of retired Assistant and Associate Academic Deans from all the UIUC Colleges. Through our philanthropy, we have established six endowment funds: one for the Library at UNH and five at UIUC: Krannert Center, Krannert Art Museum, the Library, College of LAS and most recently Allerton Park. The units we support do a great job of keeping in touch with us. Our fund at LAS is for an intern in the Dean’s Office, and we enjoy meeting each year the chosen student. Our Allerton endowment supports the In-Residence artist or naturalist program thus providing us an opportunity to meet with the recipients. We are Foundation Members and Illini fans, having held football and basketball season tickets for 45 years.
Giving to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is clearly important to you. Can you explain what compelled you to give and keep giving? What do you hope your philanthropy accomplishes for the University?
Peter and Joan: Because we believe that education changes individuals and the world, we are strong proponents of public education. It is absolutely vital to the strength of the United States and has been an integral part of the fabric of our society. As we have traveled to all seven continents and more than 130 countries, we have observed first-hand the important role of education. For us, private giving and especially endowments provide a promise for the future. The University of Illinois is an outstanding institution, but it needs our help to continue its mission. We believe our gifts will have lasting value.
What advice can you share about how to make a lasting impact at the University of Illinois?
Peter and Joan: There are many areas at the University to support and many ways to make a gift. Choose a program or programs for which you feel passion. Giving is truly a two- way street, because the donor will derive as much satisfaction as the recipient. We have funded our gifts through real estate, when we moved out of our house, appreciated stocks, annuities, and outright cash. We favor endowments because of the “in perpetuity” aspect. They keep on giving.
What is your favorite University of Illinois memory?
Peter: I was not an undergrad here, so I don’t have those memories. For me, it is the outstanding people with whom I have had the opportunity to meet over the years and, of course, helping students, giving them second chances. I have always said that a Dean’s job is to make an exception. There were students for whom I did that.
Joan: Over the years, you would be amazed at the number of students (and their parents) who have come up to him to say what a difference one of his decisions made for them. For me it is the people too, the donors I had the opportunity to know and the impact my work had on the Library, the way it looks today. We have loved the performances and exhibitions at both Krannert and the trails at Allerton.
Peter and Joan: We have both been lucky. The University of Illinois provided us with truly meaningful professional careers. Now we want to give back.