Giving

Penn State University, the state’s largest institution of higher education, has a long-standing reputation of excellence and prestige. This reputation has equated to unparalleled pride and loyalty among our alumni and friends. The price of excellence, however, continues to rise and the University’s public support continues to decline. You might be surprised to learn that state appropriations account for only one-third of the University’s operating budget. This reduction in funding, combined with rising costs, has forced the University to increase tuition, burdening our students with more post-college debt.

Penn State Lehigh Valley is also feeling the pressure of achieving greatness with limited resources. The success of our students is directly related to our ability to meet their educational needs while also providing them with student programs and services that will enhance their overall Penn State experience. In order to do this, and meet the needs of our local community, we need to identify new sources of funding for our programs and initiatives.

So how can you help? Connect with the office of Development and Alumni Relations to learn how you can get involved with supporting the Penn State Lehigh Valley campus. There are a variety of options to explore.

Development Staff

Phillip St. James | Director of Campus Development

610-285-5072 | pbs23@psu.edu

Phillip St. James joined the Penn State family in September 2017 as the director of campus development at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

He came to Penn State Lehigh Valley from the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley where he served as senior relationship manager for five years. Previously, St. James worked in a number of corporate and non-profit roles, including having served as manager of U.S. Community Affairs for Sanofi-Aventis for five years, and also serving the company as manager of Corporate Giving and Philanthropy.  

St. James earned a master of science in management from Webster University, and a bachelor of science in computer science for business from DeVry University. He currently resides in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Sharon Neders | Development Assistant and Stewardship Coordinator

610-285-5039 | smn20@psu.edu