President’s Report | Celebrate a wonderful year with Queens! The 2023-24 President’s Report highlights innovation, philanthropy, and academic achievements.
Heads Up | We discovered that some of the emails sent to advancement@queens.edu between 2022-2024 were not received by our team due to a technical issue. The problem is resolved, but if you did not receive a reply, please let us know so we can correct it. Thank you for your understanding!
It’s a heist! | While we’re excited to offer the vintage and modern Queens ornaments for Giving Tuesday this year, the story of how we discovered the Queens College ornaments is certainly a spectacle! Join us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Threads, or Twitter/X to uncover how Shawn Bowers ’01 and Jennifer Daniel ’08 masterminded a Queens heist 👀 ⠀
Don’t Miss This | Arts at Queens presents Vitamin String Quartet: The Music of Taylor Swift, Bridgerton, and Beyond on Thursday, January 23. (Tickets)And just a couple of weeks later on February 11, the Learning Society will present Dr. Abraham Verghese, New York Times bestselling author, practicing physician, and Stanford University professor. (Ticket Alert)
A Letter from Lesley
Dear Friends,
As the calendar year winds down and the holidays of the season near, a time for reflection seems natural and certainly is at Queens. With familiar traditions and milestones ahead like our Boars Head Dinner, Moravian Love Feast, Reading Day, Exams and more – we also turn our hearts and minds to a holiday season full of gratitude. We are grateful for the countless examples of how the generosity of donors and supporters sustain the legacy of Queens’ past while ensuring the promise of tomorrow. Thank you for your continued positive impact on our alma mater!
Tax advantages for 2024 (and future years) may be beneficial when considering a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA directed to a gift to Queens. New versions of the SECURE ACT have impacted the start date for RMDs in recent years If you reach age 72 in 2023, your first RMD for 2024 (the year you reach 73) is due by April 1, 2025 or potentially face financial penalties. Once eligible, individuals can donate any amount up to $100,000. These donations can satisfy an annual Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), if applicable, and are not considered taxable income. We are flexible to work with you whether QCDs from your IRA, or direct gifts, stock donations, bequest intentions and gifts from Donor Advised Funds should any of these align with your giving strategies. Learn more.
Should you have any questions about these gift options, please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’d be happy to talk more. A financial or tax advisor may help further identify whether there is a beneficial strategy for your philanthropy whether at Queens or other organizations.
“This year began a new season in our lives. BOTH of us are now retired! As Lee and I consider “the absolutes” among the organizations most dear to us, making an IRA contribution to Queens is a clear choice. Required minimum distributions could be satisfied while being more efficient to maximize our giving through tax savings. Maintaining Royal Society membership with a gift of at least $1,857 continues to be an important goal for us and we are in this to support my alma mater for the long haul!”
– Trudy Manning Farnell ‘76
Queens remains a place where one person and one gift will always make a difference. Thank you for considering Queens in your gift planning, and particularly now if making end of year charitable decisions. We are humbled by the generosity of our alumni and their involvement in the life of the university. Warm wishes to you and your families and may your heart be filled with all the joys of the season!
We encourage you to nominate your fellow alumni for the 2025 Alumni Awards! Check out the different categories and submit your nominations before December 1.
The Outstanding Alumna/us Award is given to an alumna/us who has made significant achievements and gained prominence in their professional life. Service to the Alumni Association and/or Queens is not part of the criteria for this award.
The Alumna/us Service Award is presented to an alumna/us who best embodies the Queens motto: non ministrari sed ministrare, or “not to be served, but to serve.” Recipients demonstrate exceptional service to the Alumni Association and Queens.
The Sed Ministrare Award was initiated in 2007, Queens’ sesquicentennial year, to honor an alumna/us who has provided outstanding service to their community.
The 10 Under 10 Awards recognize 10 undergraduate alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years. Candidates for this award have distinguished themselves and made a noticeable impact in their careers, their communities and/or their service to Queens. These young alumni have made noteworthy accomplishments in a short period of time since graduating from Queens. These 10 awards will replace the Young Alumna/us Award Queens has had in the past.
If you have additional information to share (press releases, articles, resumes, etc.), please send them to the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@queens.edu.
Queens Alumni Engagement
We love celebrating Royals like you—but it’s way more fun when everyone joins in! Follow Queens Alumni Engagement on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Threads, or Twitter/X and you’ll be entered to win some of our newest Queens gear. (One entry per platform.)
Plus, the first 25 alumni who message us on any platform with a new job, promotion, award, publication, Queens friends reunion, Queens wedding, or other sharable update will receive a prize in the mail.
Living the Motto: Martha Heisler ’96—A Lifetime of Service
Martha Heisler’s ’96 life’s work reflects a steadfast commitment to justice, community, and compassion.
The former Royals basketball player has dedicated her 28-year career to law enforcement and victim advocacy. Today, as Chief Investigator for the Solicitor’s Office in Rock Hill, SC, she works tirelessly to bring justice to victims of violent crimes. Her role, which includes working on homicide cases and other serious offenses, often brings her face-to-face with grieving families. Yet, it is in these moments that she finds profound purpose.
“With what I do with the homicide cases, I’ll run into victims’ family members out in public, and they will hug me and thank me,” Martha shares. “That’s where it makes you feel good that you helped them get through that bad time in their life where they lost a loved one.”
Martha also works with organizations like Keystone, supporting those struggling with addiction by connecting them with resources to help rebuild their lives. Martha also exemplifies the spirit of service in her personal life. She is an active parent volunteer for her children’s track, cross country, and band programs, ensuring events run smoothly and every student feels supported.
As a student-athlete at Queens, she learned the value of community. She fondly recalls volunteering with her basketball teammates for Habitat for Humanity, an experience that not only strengthened their bond but also instilled a deep appreciation for giving back.
Her Queens experience was shaped by community and scholarships, “Most of the people I knew were there on scholarship. Had it not been for those scholarships, most of us wouldn’t have been able to go to a wonderful school like Queens.”
As we celebrate Giving Tuesday, Martha Heisler’s story reminds us of the influence that service can have—not just on the lives of others, but on our own sense of purpose and community. Her dedication to living Queens’ motto continues to inspire, making her a shining example of what it means to be a Royal.
Join us in honoring alumni like Martha by supporting the next generation of students at Queens. Together, we can ensure they, too, have the opportunity to serve and thrive.
Giving Tuesday: November 19 – December 3
At Queens, generosity is more than a value—it’s a tradition. That’s why we’re extending the Giving Tuesday celebration beyond just one day! We’re sharing the stories of alumni and students who live the Queens motto on our socials and website, and we’re also excited to debut two exclusive Queens ornaments. When you give $125 or more to the Queens Fund, you will receive your choice of ornament as a token of our appreciation.Stay tuned for more!
Upcoming Campus Events
11/21 | Charlotte Alumni Association Happy Hour – RSVP
“How to Know a Person: Bringing Humanity Back from the Brink”| Queens University’s Learning Society recently hosted a captivating conversation between bestselling author David Brooks and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anna Quindlen. Check it out.
Beyond the Game: Queens Alumnus Scores Prestigious Fellowship | Isaiah Bennett ’24 is living his childhood dream after being one of only two out of a pool of 400 applicants who received the Minority in Sports Fellowship through Tepper Sports and Entertainment. Story.
Rex’s Corner
We are thrilled to announce another record-breaking year for Investing In Champions! Through generous contributions we raised an astounding $553,663!
With 1,462 individual gifts supporting 31 Queens Athletics programs and the Royals Club, generosity will ensure our student-athletes continue to receive the tools and resources needed to thrive.
Two remarkable business leaders, Bob Salvin and Keith Luedeman, were recently inducted into the Carolinas Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. Established by the Queens McColl School of Business in 2010, the Hall of Fame honors individuals whose entrepreneurial achievements have significantly shaped the business landscape of the Carolinas. Join us in celebrating their contributions to innovation and leadership!
Bob Salvin, founder and former CEO of Salvin Dental Specialties, Inc., revolutionized implant dentistry with his innovative work in surgical instruments and regenerative biomaterials. From humble beginnings selling dental instruments out of his car, Bob grew his company into a global leader. His legacy is marked by industry accolades and his dedication to community service, including his role as a Queens University Trustee.
Keith Luedeman, founder and former CEO of goodmortgage.com, transformed the mortgage industry through his pioneering online mortgage platform. His leadership earned goodmortgage.com a spot on the Inc. 5000 five times and multiple awards for workplace excellence. Keith is also committed to supporting startups and mentoring future entrepreneurs as Chair of Innovate Charlotte and the Queens Entrepreneurial Leadership Circle.
