Meet the President - Rockhurst University

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4Building a Better FutureFive Rockhurst alumni traveled to Juarez, Mexico,for a week in March to help build a home for adisadvantaged family. They worked on the samehome that a group of Rockhurst students beganduring their spring break service trip the week before.The alumni group included Erin Field, ’04, alumni directorDeb Flores, ’93, Sharon Kovac, ’93, Nina Marsh, ’73,and Jacqueline Schumacher, ’05. Find out more abouttheir trip in the next Alumni News & Events newsletter.Rockhurst alumni volunteers gather with local workers andthe children who soon will call this house their home.Health and Wellness ComplexAre you a fitness buff? You can make a meaningfulcontribution to future Rockhurst studentsand others in the Rockhurst communitythrough a donation to the University’s Healthand Wellness Complex. Visit www.rockhurst.edu/givingfor more information about the facility and how todesignate your gift for the project.Alumni LeadersRU Grad Helps Turn StrugglingFamilies Into Success StoriesHelp wanted: seeking dedicated, seasoned nonprofitprofessional to help raise funds for newcommunity agency. Other responsibilitiesinclude, but not limited to: strategic planning, emergencyassistance to families in need, marketing and publicrelations, responding to client inquiries, cleaningoffice bathroom, various other duties as required.Many people might be intimidated by this jobdescription, but Joan (Putthoff) Bosler, ’87, wasn’tafraid to roll up hersleeves and takeon the challenge ofthis “do it all” job.In fact, she says shethrives on the multitaskingaspect of herrole as vice presidentfor Working Families’Friend, a UnitedWay agency thatprovides assistance,training, and supportto working familiesin need who oftendo not qualify fortraditional assistance.“The people weJoan (Putthoff) Bosler, ’87serve are the backbone of our community, and they’vefallen on hard times and often have nowhere else toturn,” Bosler says. “The challenge is that I will neverbe able to secure enough resources to fulfill ourmission. There will always be more people in need.”Bosler, who has worked in nonprofit fund developmentfor nearly 20 years, says she often calls upon herRockhurst education in her career. Whether using thepersuasion skills she learned to motivate donors tosupport the agency or living the university’s missionas she works to better people’s lives, she uses herdegree every day.“I feel like I am genuinely helping to make a differencein people’s lives,” Bosler says. “The success storiesof the people we serve keep me going—I keep a file ofthank you notes and read them to motivate myself.”Rockhurst4spring 2006 23