Name:              George D. Wendt Position:           Associate V.P. for Development, College of Engineering, Architecture & Technology (CEAT) Hometown:       Southgate, Michigan (suburban Detroit)     Where were you employed before joining the OSUF? University of Michigan-Flint (two years) University of Nebraska (14 years) Northwestern University (five years) Why did you choose to join the Foundation? After leaving the University of Nebraska for my “home” state, I realized that I had stronger lower-Midwestern roots than I thought (didn’t like the cold weather!).  I wanted to get back to a major research university in a small town with a moderate climate.

What does your typical day look like?
What makes this position so very interesting is that there really isn’t a typical day!  From being proactive and reactive to alumni/donor/prospect calls to meeting with faculty and department heads to designing and writing brochures for solicitation calls to researching alumni and corporations for potential gifts to visiting with dedicated CEAT alumni from Washington, D.C., to San Diego, everyday is different. Everyday I’m amazed at the love and attachment our alumni have for OSU - even those who haven’t been back to campus in many years.

What are some of the joys and challenges you face in your position?
For me, the sheer number of CEAT alumni that are so generous with their financial support makes it difficult to adequately thank everyone.  We send letters and make phone calls, but I would like to do more when I know that they have limited “expendable income” and yet they make a very generous gift to OSU.  Also, I have become very aware of how some of our very good students are struggling financially with their education-related expenses.  We have far more deserving students than we have scholarship support.  I would like to convince everyone that received a scholarship when they attended OSU to “give back” that same kind of support to today’s students!

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
My wife Nancy and I enjoy the laid-back lifestyle that Stillwater offers. We enjoy walking around Boomer Lake, walking downtown and when necessary (not very often) driving to Tulsa or Oklahoma City for shopping.  I also enjoy golfing - never enough for the golfer, always too much for the spouse!

What do you recommend visitors or newcomers do in Stillwater?
We recommend for any newcomer or visitor to “relax!”  Although Stillwater and OSU have much to offer, this isn’t a community like Denver, Chicago, Tulsa or Oklahoma City.  Stillwater and the OSU communities are very family-oriented and extremely friendly and laid-back.  You don’t have to rush anywhere. This is a small town with a major land-grant university.  Generally it only takes 15 minutes to get from one side of town to the other.  Leaving ten minutes before an event and getting there “on time” is the norm, not the exception. We also recommend that visitors and newcomers take advantage of the wonderful activities offered at OSU - from evening speakers and seminars, to music and theatre performances to browsing in the Edmon Low Library - there’s usually something going on every night of the week.

What’s the best part about living in Stillwater?
I think the best parts about living in Stillwater are the small-town, family-oriented, relaxed atmosphere; the relatively low cost of living; and OSU.

What projects/campaigns/etc are you most excited about in the coming year?
The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology has been blessed to have wonderful facilities for students and faculty.  We will soon have a newly renovated and expanded architecture building, thanks to a major gift from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.  The campaign to support this gift and the upcoming Centennial celebration for the School of Architecture will highlight the achievements of our students and faculty.  This promises to be a very exciting time for our current students and CEAT alumni.  In addition, the new Helmerich Advanced Technology Research Center on the OSU-Tulsa campus and the various naming opportunities in which our alumni, corporations and foundation can participate will be very exciting.

What’s the number one reason you would recommend joining the OSU Foundation?
The OSU Foundation is a very dynamic, growing organization that supports one of the finest land-grant institutions in the nation.  The Foundation has a Board of Governors who is willing and able to assist; an administration that has a great understanding of fundraising, staff development and motivation; and a staff who are cooperative, work together and support each other allowing each individual to excel and succeed.

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