“I think higher ed is one of those jobs people tend to end up in and not know how they got there. That is not my story.”
Bethany Hardwig, the NDSU Foundation’s vice president of alumni and donor connections, is originally from Pittsburgh, PA, but has spent time across the nation working various jobs in higher education.
“My dad was the president of an academic institution, so I grew up traveling, fundraising, planning events, recruiting, and talking about admissions yields,” Hardwig said. “This is really all I’ve ever done, and it’s really all I ever plan on doing.”
A Dream Job
Hardwig describes her current role at the NDSU Foundation as her “dream job,” a position that encapsulates various fields into one role where boredom is not in the vocabulary. In her position, she can “build ecosystems of philanthropy,” thriving while helping others thrive as well. One of the main supporters of this system is NDSU Foundation CEO John Glover.
“Our CEO has been here 10 years, and I think John has a clear idea of how to run an organization. One of the things he always says is that our people predict production, and so I think there is commitment to our people and how we engage with them. That also should not be unusual, but it often is, so I’m grateful to be at a place that values its people both internally and externally,” Hardwig said.
A Unique Approach
While Hardwig is incredibly grateful for her past experiences at other renowned universities, it’s the people-centered approach at the NDSU Foundation that truly sets it apart. She fully believes this but wants to ensure that others do too.
“The largest hurdle in this job is also the most endearing one. NDSU and North Dakota, in general, do not love to brag about themselves,” Hardwig said. “Having the ability to get some large institutions and some large cities to recognize how much I think we compete and everything we have to offer is a real strength. Learning how to tell our story in a way that feels authentic to who Fargo is, who NDSU is, and still being able to brag about the incredible things that are happening here can be a challenge.”
Empowered Through Connection
One thing to brag about are the alumni of NDSU. Hardwig thinks of the way the NDSU Foundation engages its alumni as a way to illustrate how a student’s tuition dollars add value to their life after graduation. All students have to do is contact the Foundation, and people like Hardwig will help them in areas of life that extend far beyond professional services. The Foundation can connect individuals to other NDSU alumni within their region or assist family members who might also be interested in attending NDSU. “We are always looking for more ways to help alumni and endeavor to be constantly adapting to meet their needs,” Hardwig said.
