Advancement Team
Don Lenze, Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations
MPS, Human Resources and Employment Relations, Penn State
B.S., Accounting, Penn State
Don Lenze, senior director of development and alumni relations for Outreach and Online Education, has led the World Campus Advancement team since March 2024. Don has held positions in Penn State’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations since 2008, beginning in the College of Engineering. From 2013 to 2024, he led the College of Arts and Architecture’s alumni and donor relations across seven academic schools and departments, as well as the Palmer Museum of Art and the Center for the Performing Arts. Don is a proud World Campus alumnus.
Email: dml102@psu.edu
Phone: 814-863-8792
Don’s LinkedIn
Rob Butler, Director of Major Gifts
M.A., Television, Radio, and Film, Syracuse University
B.A., English, Bates College
Rob Butler, director of major gifts, has a fundraising portfolio that includes Penn State World Campus initiatives such as program and scholarship endowments. He joined the Penn State World Campus Advancement team in 1999 and has held the positions of development assistant, assistant director, and associate director. Before his career in fundraising, Rob was a radio news anchor/reporter in Augusta, Maine, and an associate producer for television and radio at WPSU.
Email: rmbutler@psu.edu
Phone: 814-865-8283
Rob’s LinkedIn
Chris Artz, Associate Director of Development
MBA, Penn State
B.A., Music, Duquesne University
As associate director of development for Online Education, Chris focuses on scholarships and programs for World Campus students, including nontraditional learners, students with financial need, our service members and their families, and our veterans. More broadly, Chris pursues goals of connecting World Campus students to alumni and friends in the larger Penn State community and finding new ways for our students to collaborate and thrive in an environment that matches the needs of their everyday lives. Before joining the World Campus Advancement team in 2025, Chris served as senior account manager at Bob Barker Company, where he worked on contract negotiations, new business development, and product innovation.
Email: cra5452@psu.edu
Phone: 814-863-2437
Chris’s LinkedIn
Suzie Hoy, Administrative Support Assistant
Diploma in Accounting, South Hills School of Business and Technology
Suzie Hoy, administrative support assistant, joined the Penn State World Campus Advancement team in 2014. Previously, she was an administrative support assistant for the Grants and Contract Office in Outreach and Online Education. Her experience includes providing administrative support for Statewide Continuing Education, Outreach Marketing, and Cooperative Extension.
Email: seh15@psu.edu
Phone: 814-863-2437
Suzie’s LinkedIn
Marcia Kimler, Associate Director of Alumni Relations
MBA, University of Nebraska
B.S., Biology, Radford University
Marcia Kimler, associate director of alumni relations, has served as the go-to person for Penn State World Campus alumni since 2023. In her role, she develops innovative and inclusive events and programs around the U.S. and the world, provides meaningful student and alumni connection opportunities across World Campus, supports the Penn State World Campus Alumni Society volunteer leadership and its initiatives, and works closely with the Penn State Alumni Association to provide additional social networking and professional development. She manages annual alumni awards processes, alumni giving and volunteering opportunities, and collaborations with the colleges.
Email: marciakimler@psu.edu
Phone: 814-863-6923
Marcia’s LinkedIn
Cara Lucas, Development Assistant
B.S., Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State
Cara Lucas, development assistant, joined the Penn State World Campus Advancement team in November 2023. Her career at Penn State includes positions with the Corporate Engagement Center, Employee Relations (Human Resources), and the College of Engineering Dean’s Office, as well as several years serving as the development assistant on the College of Engineering’s Development and Alumni Relations team. Before starting her career at Penn State in 2015, she spent several years as a parent educator/family counselor for Family Intervention Crisis Services in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
Email: cem5176@psu.edu
Phone: 814-863-6541
Cara’s LinkedIn
Nick McCarthy, Director of Development Communications and Senior Proposal Writer
M.A., English, Penn State
B.A., English and American Literature, University of Warwick, UK
Nick McCarthy, director of development communications and senior proposal writer, leads communications for the Penn State World Campus Advancement team, which includes managing volunteer campaign communications. Her responsibilities encompass researching and developing major proposals, developing relationships with foundations, and managing special projects. Previously, she was a publications writer for The Penn Stater, proposal writer for the Grand Destiny Campaign, and assistant director of the Center for Computational Mathematics and Applications at Penn State. She also served as a technical communications specialist with the Justice and Safety Institute in Penn State Outreach.
Email: njm9@psu.edu
Phone: 814-865-4342
Nick’s LinkedIn
Amy Sharer, Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations
Associate of Applied Science, Pennsylvania College of Technology
Amy Sharer, director of stewardship and donor relations, began her career at Penn State in the Office of the Senior Vice President and Dean for the Commonwealth Educational System. She spent several years as the development assistant for the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications and as assistant director in administrative information systems for Penn State Development and Alumni Relations. Sharer joined the World Campus Advancement team from the Penn State College of Engineering, where she served as the College’s stewardship coordinator.
Email: aqh1@psu.edu
Phone: 814-863-3328
Amy’s LinkedIn