{"id":515485,"date":"2025-10-20T14:34:48","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T18:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/?p=515485"},"modified":"2025-10-20T17:49:55","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T21:49:55","slug":"where-passion-meets-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/where-passion-meets-purpose\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Passion Meets Purpose"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

The launch of Poole CollegE’s new Dean’s Circle<\/a> brings together passionate Poole supporters with a desire to give where it matters most to them \u2014 while also helping Poole carve a strategic path to the top ranks of the country’s most successful business schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With tens of thousands of alumni and stakeholders, Poole\u2019s vast network of supporters have different passions and areas of interest. The Dean’s Circle meets donors where they are, offering focused giving opportunities through annual gifts of $5,000 and above to select college-wide and departmental funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we look across the nation\u2019s top business schools, these schools have a high volume of support from alumni and external stakeholders,\u201d says Frank Buckless, Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. Dean of Poole College. \u201cThe Dean’s Circle establishes that within Poole in a meaningful way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s power in the precision of the program, according to Brian Clark, executive director of philanthropy for Poole College. A $5,000 gift to the General Scholarship Fund can provide critical support that helps a student with financial need complete his or her degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That idea matters to Jim Stewart (MBA \u201809), who chose to focus his support on scholarships. As someone who recognizes and is grateful for the professional rewards his own Poole experience provided, Stewart says he wants to help other students realize their goals.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n


“I believe that a strong scholarship base of funds helps the college to maintain a multifaceted group of qualified students.”<\/strong> \u2014Jim Stewart (MBA \u201809)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI believe that a strong scholarship base of funds helps the college to maintain a diverse group of qualified students and helps assist students who are qualified but who may lack the funds required for attendance,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other opportunities for support vary widely, so Poole supporters can give where it matters most to them. That same $5,000 amount toward the Global Programs Scholarship Fund might mean the difference between a student staying home or embarking on their first international experience. The High-Impact Experiences Fund supports everything from student case competitions at prestigious universities to practicum experiences where students tackle real-world business challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That spoke to Dean\u2019s Circle members Randall and Catherine Pooler. The couple are proud Pack parents, and Randall is a 1993 alum with a degree in economics and business management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI’m a huge proponent of hands-on, real-world experiences for students,\u201d Randall Pooler says. \u201cI want to make sure that students who want to have these experiences have the support and resources that they need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donors could also choose to support an array of other funds that cover areas from mental health services for students to academic departments that help compensate peer tutors or send faculty to cutting-edge AI training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Elizabeth Murray (B.S. Accounting \u201899, MAC \u201800), being a member of the Dean\u2019s Circle reflects a desire to give back, to support the future of her own profession, accounting, and to come together as one Poole community.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n

\u201cMy contribution to the Dean’s Circle wasn’t large, but if everyone gave something, we could make a huge difference.\u201d \u2014Elizabeth Murray (B.S. Accounting \u201899, MAC \u201800)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want every student who wishes to pursue a degree in accounting to have the opportunity to go to college,\u201d she says. \u201cMy contribution to the Dean’s Circle wasn’t large, but if everyone gave something, we could make a huge difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to directly impacting Poole and its students, the idea of bringing together a community speaks to another valuable component of the Dean\u2019s Circle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere’s the impact and then there\u2019s the connectivity within the Dean\u2019s Circle,\u201d Clark says. \u201cThe program connects like-minded supporters who share an affinity for Poole and our mission to develop business leaders at NC State.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n


“There’s the impact and then there\u2019s the connectivity within the Dean\u2019s Circle.”<\/strong> \u2014Brian Clark
<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Brooks Deaton (B.S. Business Management \u201903) echoes that sentiment. He says support from alumni and friends coming together means Poole can move faster in expanding scholarships, attracting top faculty, and bringing real-world experiences to the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJoining the Dean’s Circle<\/a> is a simple way to turn gratitude for my own Poole experience into momentum for the college,\u201d Deaton says. \u201cI’d tell anyone on the fence that your gift goes farther at Poole because it brings together a community of future Pack leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n

More from Poole Business: Fall 2025<\/h2>\n

Through exciting new initiatives \u2014 and more on the way \u2014 Poole College continues driving lasting impact across North Carolina. <\/p>\n \n

\n \n \n
\n
\n "Deion\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

From Project Manager to Product Leader<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Deion Doubledee used the Jenkins MBA to pivot his career, expand his network, and thrive.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n \n

\n
\n "Eileen\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Poole Pack Profiles: Meet Eileen Taylor<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

The accounting professor brings \u201caha moments\u201d to her classroom and joy to people off campus.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n \n \n

\n \n

Internships With Impact<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Through Business HIRE, Poole powers student success while supporting rural communities across North Carolina.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n See all in current issue<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n

The launch of Poole CollegE's new Dean's Circle<\/a> brings together passionate Poole supporters with a desire to give where it matters most to them \u2014 while also helping Poole carve a strategic path to the top ranks of the country's most successful business schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With tens of thousands of alumni and stakeholders, Poole\u2019s vast network of supporters have different passions and areas of interest. The Dean's Circle meets donors where they are, offering focused giving opportunities through annual gifts of $5,000 and above to select college-wide and departmental funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we look across the nation\u2019s top business schools, these schools have a high volume of support from alumni and external stakeholders,\u201d says Frank Buckless, Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. Dean of Poole College. \u201cThe Dean's Circle establishes that within Poole in a meaningful way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There's power in the precision of the program, according to Brian Clark, executive director of philanthropy for Poole College. A $5,000 gift to the General Scholarship Fund can provide critical support that helps a student with financial need complete his or her degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That idea matters to Jim Stewart (MBA \u201809), who chose to focus his support on scholarships. As someone who recognizes and is grateful for the professional rewards his own Poole experience provided, Stewart says he wants to help other students realize their goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cI believe that a strong scholarship base of funds helps the college to maintain a diverse group of qualified students and helps assist students who are qualified but who may lack the funds required for attendance,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other opportunities for support vary widely, so Poole supporters can give where it matters most to them. That same $5,000 amount toward the Global Programs Scholarship Fund might mean the difference between a student staying home or embarking on their first international experience. The High-Impact Experiences Fund supports everything from student case competitions at prestigious universities to practicum experiences where students tackle real-world business challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That spoke to Dean\u2019s Circle members Randall and Catherine Pooler. The couple are proud Pack parents, and Randall is a 1993 alum with a degree in economics and business management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI'm a huge proponent of hands-on, real-world experiences for students,\u201d Randall Pooler says. \u201cI want to make sure that students who want to have these experiences have the support and resources that they need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donors could also choose to support an array of other funds that cover areas from mental health services for students to academic departments that help compensate peer tutors or send faculty to cutting-edge AI training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Elizabeth Murray (B.S. Accounting \u201899, MAC \u201800), being a member of the Dean\u2019s Circle reflects a desire to give back, to support the future of her own profession, accounting, and to come together as one Poole community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want every student who wishes to pursue a degree in accounting to have the opportunity to go to college,\u201d she says. \u201cMy contribution to the Dean's Circle wasn't large, but if everyone gave something, we could make a huge difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to directly impacting Poole and its students, the idea of bringing together a community speaks to another valuable component of the Dean\u2019s Circle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere's the impact and then there\u2019s the connectivity within the Dean\u2019s Circle,\u201d Clark says. \u201cThe program connects like-minded supporters who share an affinity for Poole and our mission to develop business leaders at NC State.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Brooks Deaton (B.S. Business Management \u201903) echoes that sentiment. He says support from alumni and friends coming together means Poole can move faster in expanding scholarships, attracting top faculty, and bringing real-world experiences to the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJoining the Dean's Circle<\/a> is a simple way to turn gratitude for my own Poole experience into momentum for the college,\u201d Deaton says. \u201cI'd tell anyone on the fence that your gift goes farther at Poole because it brings together a community of future Pack leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The college’s new Dean’s Circle creates opportunities for donors to give where it matters most to them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":515489,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"views\/single-immersive.blade.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"Lea Hart","ncst_show_custom_author":true,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-immersive-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"backgroundColor\":\"custombg_seven\",\"displayCategoryID\":8,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"subtitle\":\"Our new Dean's Circle meets donors where they are, creating opportunities to give where it matters most.\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[81],"class_list":["post-515485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-giving"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":8,"name":"Impact of Giving","slug":"giving","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":8,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":13,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515485","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=515485"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515485\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":515616,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515485\/revisions\/515616"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/515489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=515485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=515485"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=515485"},{"taxonomy":"_ncst_magazine_issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_ncst_magazine_issue?post=515485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}