Long-Time Development Administrator Beth Stouffer Retires

Associate Director of Development Beth Stouffer retired in December after 26 years at MFS. During her long career at the school, which started first as a parent volunteer, Beth played a crucial role in shaping the growth of the school’s fundraising, alumni relations, and parent programming efforts. She visited hundreds of alumni across the country over the years, updating them on happenings at MFS and learning about their experiences at the school, as well as finding avenues to engage them in the school  today. A wonderful connector, she helped alumni moving to new cities find fellow alumni, responded to career networking requests to arrange for students and young alumni to meet with others who are more established in their fields, and facilitated  numerous Senior Project placements.

“Beth has been a wonderful advocate for MFS,” said Director of Development Steve Zakroff. “She built relationships with so many alumni, helping them to remain connected to the school, and to each other. She has a deep knowledge of the school’s history  and the people who have been integral parts of it. As a development professional, Beth poured countless hours into the visits, solicitations, communications, planning, and events that garnered the resources to help MFS thrive. I can’t thank her enough for  her years of service to the school. I wish her all the best in retirement.”

Beth was an active member of the Development Subcommittee of the School Committee, and the steering committees of the major capital campaigns over the last 25+ years, including the Great Classrooms for Great Kids campaign, the Endowment  campaign, the Van Meter Endowment, and more.

As the direct staff link with the Clerk of the Alumni Association Executive Committee (AAEC), Beth coordinated the work and the growth of the AAEC and helped to expand alumni programming, especially on Alumni Weekend. She managed the popular  annual Career Day program which connects alumni, parents, and guardians with juniors and seniors to speak about career paths. Numerous class reunions were a success thanks to Beth’s endeavors to recruit volunteers and guide their decisions on plans  to gather with their classmates.

In a Minute of Appreciation presented upon her retirement, a colleague poignantly summarized Beth’s contributions to the school: “I appreciate all that Beth has done to support and nurture our school community. She is so good at this work, because it is simply a bigger version of the care, devotion, and effort she invests everyday in her family. Communities and families don’t thrive if people do not work to treasure, nurture, and cherish their relationships. I deeply admire the daughter, wife, mother,  grandmother, and friend that Beth is and the example she has set.”

Beth and her husband Chris are the parents of Richard Stouffer ’02, Will Stouffer ’05, and Ann Stouffer Thornton ’07. In retirement, Beth has been more available to her family, ranging from her 92-year-old father to her young grandchildren. In addition, she plans to travel with Chris, do volunteer work in Philadelphia, and tackle some writing projects.

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