How 48 Years of Giving Empowers Student Leaders
Glenn College students from the Ohio State chapter of the International City/County Management Association, (front row, from left) Jessie Gao, Sydney Brower and Taylor Lefkowitz and (standing, from left) Julian Yetsky, Wade Brown, Nancy Angeles and Briana Watt visit the City of Westerville on a spring 2026 field trip.
Over the course of her career in higher education and advancement, Glenn College alumna Kathy L. Stafford learned one thing especially important to university philanthropy: flexibility.
Stafford, who received her MA in 1975 and PhD in 1982 from what was then the School of Public Administration, has been giving to Ohio State, and especially the Glenn College, for 48 years.
Kathy L. Stafford MA in 1975 and PhD in 1982
“I knew that what’s most important to departments is money they can spend the way they need to spend it rather than designated for particular things. I mean, that’s helpful too, and we need that, of course, but I know that unrestricted funds were so wanted and needed by academic departments,” said Stafford, a Tipp City, Ohio, resident whose four-decade career included leadership positions at the Ohio Board of Regents and Inter-University Council. She then moved on to advancement leadership at the University of Akron, University of South Florida, University of Houston, James Madison University and Kent State University, where she retired as vice president for university relations. She later worked in advancement for Akron General Hospital.
“My goal was to give the college flexibility to have money to spend for what they wanted, modest as it was and still is on a yearly basis,” Stafford said.
Finding Purpose Through Public Affairs
Through shared coursework, real-world experiences and a strong community, the John Glenn Civic Leadership Community is helping students like Eric Sese turn their passion for public service into purpose.
Among many other areas, the fund supports scholarships and student organizations such as the Ohio State chapter of the International City/County Management Association (OSU-ICMA). For example, the ICMA student chapter hosts speaker events and travels to local municipalities to meet with leaders, opportunities made possible by the funding they receive.
Chapter President Sydney Brower, a second-year public policy analysis major, said she is fascinated by public utilities and planning and appreciates the field trips and professional development lessons she’s experienced in ICMA.
Students from the Ohio State chapter of the International City/County Management Association discuss city operations in Athens, Ohio, City Hall with Mayor Steve Patterson. (Credit: J. Zimomra)
“Many city officials I have met during my year in ICMA have shared great insight with me on career paths, internships and recent developments in public utilities,” she said.
“I found our field trips to the City of Dublin and the Ohio City and County Management Association annual conference to be the most impactful. Our city site visits, which we do each semester, allow students to see every aspect of local government firsthand,” Brower said. “As a first-year student, the Dublin trip was my first exposure to economic development, and older students had the chance to network with a prospective employer! The OCMA Annual Conference was an opportunity for students to put all our skills to the test, from event planning to networking to public speaking.”
This fall, the student chapter will host a panel to discuss property tax elimination efforts in the state and will visit the City of Delaware.
Witnessing the upward trajectory of our members from student leaders to thriving local government professionals is most rewarding.
Explore Ways to Make Your Impact
Consider an annual gift for general operating support for the Glenn College through the Ohio State Fund for the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, or contact Stephanie Mohr, senior director of development, to explore long-term estate planning to provide lasting scholarship support for students.
Stafford knows the importance of being job ready through a meaningful college internship she had with the Ohio Department of Finance (now the Office of Budget and Management), which led to a full-time job, so through estate planning she has set up the Dr. Kathy L. Stafford Endowed Scholarship Fund for the John Glenn College of Public Affairs. Once endowed, it will support internships in Washington, D.C., for the Glenn College Washington Academic Internship Program and MPA-DC students.
“An internship was exceedingly important in my life. I know how wonderful they can be in helping students determine whether they’re in the right place and also give them opportunities when they make contacts that are unbelievable, especially in Washington,” Stafford said.
Kathy Stafford, right, at her PhD graduation ceremony with then-Ohio State University President Edward H. Jennings
Because she was working full time while she obtained her degrees, she learned the value of perseverance and hard work.
“I had a wonderful experience — which is why I want to be supportive of the college — especially with my doctoral committee: Professors Art Lynn, Bob Backoff and Sven Lundstedt,” Stafford said. “They were wonderful in making sure I had the support I needed to get it done.”
She selected the School of Public Administration for her degrees because it allowed her to focus on her interest in higher education career paths.
“It was stimulating,” Stafford said, “and I felt that higher ed made a real difference in the world, teaching young people.”
Read the latest edition of Public Address, the Glenn College magazine.