The following article appeared in the From The Hill Magazine 2020 Issue. Follow these links to make a gift, update your information, or submit a class note.
“They created a confidence in me that made me feel as though I could achieve anything.”
That’s the kind of personalized attention and roadmap to success that Mary Young ’91 received from her professors at Albertus that helped her achieve her professional goals — the latest of which is being named the new Vice President for Advancement at her alma mater. “One of my first classes was in English Composition. An early assignment was to write a paper and I thought it was a great paper. But I got a C+!” exclaimed the future valedictorian of her class. “That teacher taught me a very valuable lesson of paying attention to detail. There were some easy fixes that could mean the difference between a C+ and an A+. So, every paper that I wrote, I would meet with my professor and get recommendations — and I got an A — but it was here that I started realizing what the personal attention from professors like Patricia Yeaman and Ron Waite could mean. These folks became more than faculty, they became mentors.”
Young said she found it on campus then and she still finds it today — inspiration and determination. “I wasn’t the greatest student in the world but I worked like crazy when I was here because I was inspired by the faculty to do that. They took the time to pay attention to me and make me the best me I could be. And they still do,” she said.
That included taking advantage of experiential learning opportunities, which helped her pay ‘The Albertus Way’ forward. Young interned at Late Night with David Letterman.
“Several days of the week, the interns were assigned to the Green Room and met some of the most amazing guests. One day, I had to pick up [then CBS White House Correspondent] Leslie Stahl from Penn Station [in New York City]. It was that personal attention I was able to give to her — she needed a sewing kit — and that sparked a wonderful conversation. This is just one example of how I learned so much from everyone I met and that moved me along in my career,” she shared.
Back in October 2019, Young moved right back to the place where it all started. But as VP for Advancement, she is now one of the most visible and influential administrators at the College — responsible for engaging alumni, parents, and friends in increasing philanthropy to support our Growth Mindset and its emerging strategic plan priorities.
This latest opportunity comes after an eight year tenure as the Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross–Metro New York North Chapter, serving Greenwich, Westchester, and the Lower Hudson Valley. There, she raised between $3 million and $7 million each year, all while leading a staff of 15 and more than 200 volunteers. Prior to this, Young served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Connecticut’s Sacred Heart University, where she planned, implemented, and successfully completed the University’s Capital Campaign during its dramatic growth years.
“It’s a dream come true to return to my roots,” Young finds herself saying over and over to people she reconnects with or meets for the first time — because that feeling comes from the heart. “As Albertus approaches its 100th anniversary in 2025, this is an exciting time to share the stories of Albertus’ impact and its steadfast commitment to fulfilling its distinctive mission for more than nine decades. In no small part, much of what the College has accomplished, and will accomplish in the future, is a testament to its alumni and supports its history of elevating the College and life dreams of its students.”
Mary Young is one of those students whose life was impacted. Young says, “From my first day as a student to my final semester, my Albertus education gave me the foundation for my professional success and self-confidence.”