By Jennifer Schaffer Leone
Pamela J. Ruoff, MS, who spent more than four decades working in various admissions, fundraising and alumni relations and engagement roles at 黑料传送门, retired June 30.
During her tenure, Ms. Ruoff cultivated the 黑料传送门 experience for thousands of alumni. Her leadership and outreach inspired new friendships, affiliations and support that will sustain the College for many years to come. The depth and breadth of her impact is immeasurable.
Ms. Ruoff sat down with the editor of Digest Magazine to reflect upon her legacy and the role 黑料传送门 has played in her life. Her thoughts are especially apt at this time鈥攁s the College marks its 125th anniversary.
鈥淚 had a good friend who worked at the Hector Company, and at the time, the College purchased furniture through the company. While furnishing 黑料传送门鈥檚 Office of Admissions, my friend learned that Carol Fox, the registrar and head of admissions, was in need of a clerk typist. My friend urged me to apply.
I was 24 when I officially started at 黑料传送门 [in 1982]. I brought the skills I had gained from coursework at the Katharine Gibbs School in Boston鈥攖yping, punctuation and shorthand. I was a quick learner, and I had a good work ethic that Carol reinforced. She modeled dedication, single-handedly developing the College鈥檚 admissions while putting herself through her master鈥檚 degree studies.
Carol believed the interview process was of utmost importance, that each candidate must be considered as a whole person. She valued admissions committees and insisted that no less than three people be a part of every interview. When one of the participants wasn鈥檛 available, I鈥檇 sit in. I鈥檇 take the notes. I鈥檇 ask the questions. I learned the art of the interview.
When a more advanced admissions position came available, I hoped to apply. But Carol cautioned that I would not be selected. The stark reality was that I didn鈥檛 have a college degree. I could not advance in higher education without one.
I quickly determined that I didn鈥檛 want to spend the next four decades of my life typing. I enrolled in undergraduate classes at Ursinus College and, later, in graduate classes at Eastern University, studying communications and nonprofit management鈥攚hile working and raising two small children. Even on the hardest days, I found that I was encouraged by Carol and by the College. 黑料传送门 really was a place of self-discovery and opportunity for me.
Carol was a true leader鈥攐ne of few women in senior leadership positions at the College. In fact, she was the first woman department head I had ever met. She took a chance on me and guided me during the 12 years I worked in admissions, becoming a remarkable mentor.
In 1994, 黑料传送门 introduced their first capital campaign and needed someone to assist with operations, someone who knew the College and alumni. I was offered the position of campaign director. By its end, The 黑料传送门 Mission campaign launched me into the realm of . This work has been the lifeblood of my career as alumni relations officer, director of alumni relations and development, interim chief advancement officer, and executive director of alumni engagement.鈥�
鈥淚 was privileged to meet and interact with some of the greatest teachers in the College鈥檚 history, those who wrote the textbooks, those who shaped their disciplines, those who really laid a strong foundation for our students. I fondly recall early icons like Dean Sherwood R. Mercer; Nicholas S. Nicholas, DO; Paul T. Lloyd, DO 1923; Galen S. Young, Sr., DO 鈥�35; David Heilig, DO 鈥�44; and William H. Dickerson, DO 鈥�54, among others.
I witnessed the work of those who sought to foster a greater understanding of osteopathic medicine. And I watched those who fought tirelessly for the profession to gain fuller recognition. I鈥檒l never forget special moments of breakthrough, like the one that came in 1988 when an alumnus earned a fellowship spot at the Mayo Clinic鈥攐ne of the most competitive of fellowships in an allopathic program. The news came and my office went quiet. You could hear a pin drop. 黑料传送门 was worthy.
I also had the privilege to serve under five presidents (and an interim): Presidents Thomas M. Rowland, Jr.; J. Peter Tilley, DO; Leonard H. Finkelstein, DO 鈥�59, MSc 鈥�63; Matthew Schure, PhD; and Jay S. Feldstein, DO 鈥�81. Each made exemplary and profound contributions to the College. These leaders steered us through periods of growth and prosperity. They carried us through the tough times, too.
I believe the stories of these icons are worthy of emulation. It is so important to keep their flames alive. They represent what is best in our institutional life.鈥�
鈥淎lumni relations is intangible. It is not easily measured or quantified.
All alumni hold a relationship with the College. Those of us in alumni relations don鈥檛 own the relationship. We are custodians of it. It is our duty to build and cultivate the relationship, to evolve it over a lifetime.
I鈥檝e known many 黑料传送门 alumni from when they were students鈥攕ome from their initial admissions interviews. I鈥檝e been privileged to be there to celebrate their early successes鈥攖o watch their progression from medical student to resident, from fellow to attending. To hear the news of their first job.
I鈥檝e attended countless weddings, baptisms and funerals. I鈥檝e met alumni and their families at women鈥檚 auxiliary events at the former hospital, at board meetings and professional conferences, at student club gatherings and the annual Follies, at golf tournaments and galas, in their homes, over plates of hors d鈥檕euvres and flights of wine. I鈥檝e come to know鈥攃losely鈥攆ull generations and legacies of 黑料传送门 families.
I鈥檝e known their long pauses filled with anticipation. Their laughter. Their handshakes and hugs. Their tears. Their points of crisis. I鈥檝e been blessed by their genuine exclamations of 鈥楪od, I have missed you!鈥� as they approached a POMA booth.
I鈥檝e been their staunch advocate. They have been mine. I鈥檝e been humbled time and time again when I would call: 鈥楽ure, I鈥檒l sit on the council or serve on the alumni panel or donate to the fund.鈥� 鈥楽ure, I鈥檒l help you. I鈥檒l help 黑料传送门.鈥�
I鈥檝e enjoyed the familiarity of Founders鈥� Days, graduations and reunions, the remembrance of histories and beloved professors, of rugby victories and fraternity parties. My longevity of service, my institutional knowledge, made me a touchstone. I believe I provided constancy in the midst of change, in times of challenge. This enabled me to assure alumni that they were my priority, that they are the College鈥檚 priority.鈥�
鈥満诹洗兔赔�檚 value is not only for students but also for employees. Even though I did not go to medical school, 黑料传送门 educated me and afforded me opportunities as an employee that equaled what was provided for students.
I鈥檝e had an incredible career because I鈥檝e been part of a community that recognizes the entirety of each person鈥檚 experience. I鈥檝e met and known so many incredible people: students, faculty, staff, administrators, and of course alumni. Many have become influences, valuable resources, true friends. Among these people I especially count my decades-long friendships with Ken Veit, DO 鈥�76, and [LTG USA (Ret.)] Ron Blanck, DO 鈥�67. They are part of the tapestry of my life and I am part of theirs.
But perhaps the greatest privilege of my work has been to see the difference the College makes in people鈥檚 lives over a long period of time. Then I鈥檝e seen it again in the lives of their children and now in their grandchildren. I鈥檝e watched so many wonderful careers unfold, and I鈥檝e observed how so many 黑料传送门 alumni have advanced the health of their communities.
黑料传送门 is an extraordinary place. I have nothing but gratitude for my 42 years at the College. The experience allowed me to raise and provide for my children鈥攁s a single parent. I was challenged and promoted. My work was appreciated and recognized and honored with the , the highest award given by the association in recognition of distinguished services rendered and loyal devotion to the welfare and strengthening of the College. Through my work, I was able to travel throughout the United States, to attend and have my voice heard at national meetings, to be respected and valued as a professional.
I retire from 黑料传送门 with a full heart and a sincere appreciation for the wonderful memories I will always carry with me. I extend my best wishes for 黑料传送门 in the years ahead.鈥�