The NC State Philanthropy Podcast

Episode 14: Cofounding the Extraordinary With 321 Coffee

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Lindsay Wrege and Michael Evans of 321 Coffee. These Park Scholars cofounded the coffee company while they were freshmen at NC State with help from their scholarships, the Andrews Launch Accelerator and other sources of private support. The result: a Raleigh-based coffee company that currently employs more than 50 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
321 has also joined with NC State to produce an officially licensed cobranded coffee. The “Greater Good” blend will be available for purchase directly from 321 Coffee beginning on April 11, with preorders available now. The medium roast coffee features NC State branding and barista Sam, one of 321’s first employees and a lifelong Wolfpack fan. To learn more about this exciting new partnership between NC State and 321 Coffee, please visit go.ncsu.edu/coffeecobrand.
This episode was recorded in the fall of 2022, during the early stages of development for “Greater Good” and as 321’s first stand-alone storefront was opening on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh. (A second stand-alone location later opened in Durham, bringing the total number of locations to four, including the original shop at the State Farmers Market and an in-office shop with software company Pendo in downtown Raleigh.) The recording was made via Zoom to allow for Lindsay and Michael’s busy schedules at that time, so please overlook any glitches in the audio caused by momentary signal loss.
Transcript available here.

Episode 13: Stewardship With Heather Tart

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re discussing stewardship with Heather Tart, the senior director of stewardship for NC State’s Office of Development Communications and Stewardship. Heather leads the team’s efforts to express the university’s gratitude to supporters who give of their time, talents and finances to provide for its success. In doing so, she also gets to hear more about what makes NC State so special to generous members of the Pack. 
NC State’s stewardship opportunities have never been greater, as the university has welcomed thousands of new donors over the last few years through the recent record-breaking Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign (2016-21), the annual NC State Day of Giving event and other philanthropic efforts. Through a variety of initiatives, Heather and her colleagues help ensure that every donor knows they are appreciated and are making a difference for students, faculty, programs, facilities and more.
Stewardship is instrumental in furthering NC State’s growing culture of philanthropy and engagement and the work of its University Advancement division, which is headed by Vice Chancellor Brian Sischo.  
If you’d like to hear even more stories of Wolfpack success, please subscribe to the NC State Philanthropy Podcast today. Be sure to leave a comment and rating as well to let us know how we’re doing!
Transcript available here.
 

Episode 12: Strategic Brand Management With Chris Boyer

On this episode, we’re joined by Chris Boyer, NC State’s assistant vice chancellor for strategic brand management, to discuss how sustaining the university’s brand identity is about much more than the consistent use of a logo. Boyer and the Office of Strategic Brand Management work to capitalize on NC State’s rising brand awareness to help the university accomplish its goals and achieve its potential. The results? Improved rankings, bright students and faculty, strong partnerships and proud alumni.
Transcript available here.

Episode 11: Celebrating the Darla Buchanan Scholarship

On this episode, we’re discussing the Darla Buchanan Scholarship, a new need-based scholarship awarded to NC State undergraduate students who are studying elementary education and are committed to advancing diversity in the teaching profession.
First up, we’re joined by Matt Friedrick, Executive Director of Development for the College of Education, to discuss why the founding donors chose to support NC State, why they named their scholarship as they did, the impact they’re already having through the College of Education and how Malcom Gladwell’s podcast Revisionist History played a major role in the scholarship’s creation.
Then, we’re joined by elementary education major Carla Gibson to discuss how she, as one of the scholarship’s first recipients, has been enabled to Think and Do during her time with the Pack.
To learn more about the Darla Buchanan Scholarship and how you can help further her extraordinary legacy, please visit go.ncsu.edu/darla. If you’d like to hear even more stories of Wolfpack success, please subscribe to the NC State Philanthropy Podcast to have the latest episodes downloaded directly to your devices upon release. Be sure to leave a comment and rating as well to let us know how we’re doing.
Transcript available here.

Episode 10: Clyde Sorenson — NC State Alumnus, Distinguished Professor and Donor

On this episode, we’re joined by Clyde Sorenson, an NC State alumnus, distinguished professor and donor, to discuss the impact of private support on his work and the university as a whole.
Sorenson is an Alumni Association Distinguished Undergraduate Professor specializing in entomology, the study of insects, in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. While many — many — undergraduate students know him as the dynamic teacher of ENT 201: Insects and People, he is also a dedicated graduate student advisor. In fact, he and his wife, Leeann, feel so strongly about supporting these future entomology teachers that they recently made a planned gift to NC State establishing the Lee and Clyde Sorenson Entomology Teaching Assistant Endowment.
Sorenson also helped bring another endowment to life in the Ronald J. Kuhr Memorial Scholarship & Entomology Graduate Teaching Award. Named in memory of Sorenson’s longtime mentor and friend, as well as the creator of ENT 201, it also supports grad students who will one day be the instructors of similar entomology classes here at NC State and around the world.
Transcript available here.

Episode 9: Understanding Endowments With Mary Peloquin-Dodd

On this episode, we’re joined by Mary Peloquin-Dodd, NC State’s associate vice chancellor for finance and university treasurer, to discuss the NC State endowment and its importance. Thanks in large part to Peloquin-Dodd’s careful management, and to the incredible generosity of donors to our recent Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign, this fund has more than tripled in the last decade to now provide the university with $1.95 billion in long-term financial support.
“Endowment” and “fund” are somewhat misleading terms, though, as NC State is actually the steward of more than 3,000 individual endowments, each with its own terms and conditions. Peloquin-Dodd and her team, working in concert with the deans of each NC State college and their respective teams, help to ensure that each endowment reaches its full potential — financially and in regards to how each endowment’s creator(s) envisioned it.
Transcript available here.
 

Episode 8: Pack Essentials With Mike Giancola

On our season two premiere, we’re joined by NC State’s assistant vice provost and student ombudsperson to learn how the university is working to support students in need of food, housing, financial and educational security.
Transcript available here.

Episode 7: Distinguished Professorships With Walt Wolfram

On the Season 1 finale of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by sociolinguist and William C. Friday Distinguished Professor Walt Wolfram to hear how private support has benefited his work on campus and beyond. Wolfram has taught at NC State for three decades and is still going strong, having also produced several books and films during that time on the various dialects found all across North Carolina. He was a personal friend of Mr. Friday before the latter’s passing, too, and seeks to honor his memory through the research made possible by the late UNC System president’s professorship.
 
Transcript available here.

Episode 6: Annual Giving With Adam Compton

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re joined by Adam Compton to talk about how Annual Giving helps the university create dynamic new approaches to teaching and learning, fuel industries and breakthroughs, guide our students to impactful post-graduate lives and more. As the executive director of Annual Giving, as well as a longtime employee of the university and an alumnus who graduated in 2009, Compton is uniquely qualified to discuss the impact of this office on NC State’s past, present and future.

Episode 5: ‘Think and Do’ In Review With Brian Sischo

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re talking with Brian Sischo, vice chancellor for University Advancement, about our recent Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign and how it has set the university up for a big, bold future. Listeners will learn how the funds raised during the campaign will be used, what NC State has planned for the coming years and much more.
To learn about the many, many ways you can become involved with NC State, click here.
Transcript available here.

Episode 4: Planned Giving With Jennifer Peavey

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re talking with the College of Design’s Jennifer Peavey about how she plans to support the university following her passing through a special gift from her 401(k) plan. Our interview explores Jennifer’s childhood in a Wolfpack home, how her career led her to NC State for a master’s degree and why she ultimately decided to make the university a beneficiary of her will.
 
Transcript available here.

Episode 3: Caldwell Fellow Kourosh Salamati, Pt. 2

On this episode of the NC State Philanthropy Podcast, we’re finishing our two-part talk with Kourosh Salamati about how the Caldwell Fellows program and other campus support systems have helped him succeed beyond his wildest dreams as a member of the Pack. Listeners will learn how a special stipend has allowed him to pursue not just his academic goals but also his personal passions; how he is taking time out of his already busy schedule to help his classmates and community; and what he plans to do after he graduates from NC State.
 
Transcript available here.

Episode 2: Caldwell Fellow Kourosh Salamati, Pt. 1

On this episode, we’re interviewing Kourosh Salamati, a senior here at NC State who has made the most of his time with the Pack by being a member of the Caldwell Fellow program and much, much more.
 
Transcript available here.

Episode 1: Inside the Memorial Belltower With Dr. Tom Stafford

Dr. Tom Stafford, NC State’s vice chancellor for student affairs emeritus, is the de facto historian for the university’s Memorial Belltower. Join us as we discuss this hallowed landmark’s history, recent completion and more with Dr. Stafford from inside the carillon room.
Transcript available here.

Trailer

NC State is proud of its land-grant roots, but being a public university doesn’t mean our only funding comes from the state of North Carolina. It takes the commitment of our entire Pack to help us create dynamic new approaches to teaching and learning, fuel industries and breakthroughs, and guide our students to impactful post-graduate lives. Hear how private support helps us think and do the extraordinary.
 
Transcript available here.