President’s
Circle

Philanthropic Leadership for WCU

When you choose to make gifts that demonstrate outstanding dedication to the future of West Chester University, you join the ranks of philanthropic leaders who propel student success — and serve as an example to every member of our shared community.

We recognize that commitment with membership in the President’s Circle giving society — a collection of extraordinary donors and community partners who have driven WCU forward with renewed optimism in the form of generous annual, cumulative, or consecutive gifts.

You can join them as a beacon of philanthropy — at our yearly President’s Circle Dinner and every day through Foundation-led recognition efforts. Together, the President’s Circle encourages even greater support for WCU from donors aspiring to create lasting impact on student success.

President’s<br />Circle

Membership Recognition

Heritage Society

Recognizing WCU’s most generous supporters who have reached extraordinary levels of cumulative lifetime giving.

The 1871 Society: $100,000+
Old Main Society: $50,000 – $99,999
Arch Society: $10,000 – $49,999

Carillon Society

Recognizing WCU’s most loyal supporters who have reached milestone consecutive years of giving.

Diamond Club: 25+ Years
Amethyst Club: 20 – 24 Years
Topaz Club: 10 – 19 Years

Community Partners

Recognizing corporate partners and foundations that have distinguished themselves in a single fiscal year with total outright gifts of $25,000 or more. Beyond financial support, many of these organizations offer additional resources such as internship and employment opportunities for WCU students, industry expertise and in-kind donations.

Partners: $25,000+
Associates: $10,000-$24,999
Friends: $1,000-$9,999

For more information about President’s Circle membership, contact us.

Honoring donors who inspire others through their philanthropy and volunteerism.

Kathleen Hassinger ’80, M’86 & Edward J. Boyer ’78 (1956-2020)

Members of the Heritage and Carillon Societies

2023 President's Award Honorees
Kathleen Hassinger ’80, M’86 & Edward J. Boyer ’78 (1956-2020)

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Kathleen Hassinger Boyer graduated from West Chester University in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education, and in 1986 earned a master’s degree in Instrumental Performance. She currently works as the Instrumental Music Teacher for E.T. Richardson Middle School and Music Curriculum Coordinator for the Springfield School District. Kathleen’s dedication to music education is reflected in her role as an advisory board member of the Wells School of Music, a trustee of the Springfield Area Education Foundation, and as a member of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. She has also hosted many WCU music education student teachers. Her late husband, Edward Boyer, was a fellow music alumnus who earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from WCU in 1978. Ed spent much of his career as Regional Sales Manager in the Band and Orchestra Division for Yamaha Corporation of America.

Kathleen and Ed have been generous supporters of the University for many years and are members of the Heritage and Carillon Societies. WCU has remained close to Kathleen’s heart, as she and Ed met here. Kathleen’s sister, Maryellen Byrne, was in Ed’s class at WCU; and when her little sister came to campus, she introduced Ed to Kathleen, and they were an instant match. Kathleen resides in West Chester and has two adult children, Christopher and Katie, and is a proud grandmother to Laney.

Anita Foeman, PhD

Member of the Heritage and Carillon Societies

2023 President's Award Honoree
Anita Foeman, PhD

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Anita Foeman is Professor Emerita in the Department of Communication and Media at West Chester University where she is a scholar of intercultural and organizational communication. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Defiance College and a master’s degree and PhD from Temple University. Dr. Foeman joined the faculty at WCU in 1982 and retired in 2022.

For the last four decades, her research has examined identity based on ancestry DNA data. Her work includes the testing of over 3,000 individuals and is the most extensive project of its type.

She is the founder and Primary Investigator of the DNA Discussion Project at WCU. The DNA Discussion Project encourages the West Chester University community to talk about diversity in a new, positive, and engaging way. Since the project started in 2006, it has provided ancestry DNA tests to hundreds of students, faculty, and staff at the university, local schools, and the West Chester community to help them find out who they really are.

Dr. Foeman just completed the second of two courses for The Great Courses company. The first is Identity in the Age of Ancestral DNA and now How to Talk about Race, just out.

She and her husband, Nate Terrell, reside in Mullica Hills, NJ. They are generous supporters of WCU and are members of the Heritage and Carillon Societies.

Dianne & Michael Peich

Members of the Heritage and Carillon Societies

2023 President's Award Honorees
Dianne & Michael Peich

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Michael Peich, Emeritus Professor of English at West Chester University, retired in 2010 after 42 years of service. He cofounded the WCU Poetry Conference, created the WCU Poetry Center, and founded Aralia Press; Aralia was housed in the WCU Library where he and his undergraduate and graduate students created handmade poetry books. A former chair of the WCU English Department, he served as a trustee on the WCU Foundation Board of Directors from 2014-2020 and has served on many advisory boards for the University. Michael is currently a player mentor for the WCU Men’s Basketball team, President of the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame, and board member and incoming President of the Ephemera Society of America.

Dianne Peich is Emeritus Professor of English at Delaware Community College where she taught for 31 years. She is currently a critter-maker extraordinaire at the Brandywine River Museum. The Peichs reside in West Chester and have two adult children.

Michael and Dianne recently established the Michael and Dianne Peich Men’s Basketball Endowment to provide annual scholarship support for the WCU Men’s Basketball team. They are loyal and generous supporters of West Chester University and are members of the Heritage and Carillon Societies.

GFWC The New Century Club of West Chester

12-Year Supporter of WCU

2023 President's Award Honoree
GFWC The New Century Club of West Chester

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The General Federation of Women’s Clubs Pennsylvania (GFWC Pennsylvania) is part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, which is one of the world’s largest and oldest women’s volunteer service organizations. Members include business owners, teachers, homemakers, elected officials, corporate executives, college students, high school students, and retirees. Members are united by a dedication to community improvement through volunteer service.

GFWC The New Century Club of West Chester has supported WCU for the last 12 years through the GFWC New Century Club Scholarship that supports five non-traditional female students, one from each college. The current President, Kathleen Lackey-Painter, and board member and Chair of the Education Committee, Marilyn R. Light, work closely with WCU and are champions for this scholarship.

Meet the
President’s Circle

Members of the President’s Circle join other donors and community partners who have made gifts benefitting West Chester University and its students. See the full list of contributors and their giving society affiliations here.

Donor Recognition

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