JAN RUMA
Chair, Alumni Association Board of Directors
Term: 2006 - 2010

Jan Ruma '86, '92 is vice president of the Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio and executive director of Toledo-Lucas County CareNet. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration/marketing (1986) from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree in education (1992) from the College of Technology/Training & Development. At BGSU, she was president of Panhellenic Council, an aerobics instructor, a member of Phi Mu sorority and the recipient of a Distinguished Student Award. From 1988-1994, she was associate director of alumni affairs. 

She recently spoke with the Alumni Association about serving the Board and its impact on the BGSU community.

Q: How did you first get involved as a volunteer with BGSU?
A: After I graduated, I had the opportunity to come back to campus through the Alumni Association’s Falcon Career Connection program to speak to students in marketing about life after college. It was a great opportunity to reflect on how what I had learned at BGSU was helping me in my career.

Q: In your view, what is the most important or impactful role you've played as a volunteer?
A: A recent volunteer experience was taking a neighbor and her high school daughter to BGSU for an admissions visit and campus tour. So much has changed since I went through the process! I also had the honor of introducing the Alumni Association’s 49th Distinguished Alumnus at summer commencement. I was in awe of the accomplishments of Dr. Patrick Monaghan and the accomplishments of the summer graduates.

Q: Can you describe the Alumni Board of Directors and what it does for the University?
A: The Alumni Board helps guide the Alumni Association in its mission to foster and maintain relationships between alumni and BGSU. The Association provides value-added programs and services to support the personal and professional success of our alumni. We also hope to inspire pride in and provide support to the University. We meet three times a year on campus and represent almost every decade of BGSU graduates. Serving on the board is a great way to stay in touch with the University and meet fellow falcons that you otherwise would only read about.

Q: Is there anything exciting or interesting going on "behind the scenes" at BGSU?
A: The Alumni Association is working to increase career services for alumni, especially considering today’s economy. So planning is underway to determine how the Association can best use its network and resources to help graduates meet their career goals.

Q: If someone is considering volunteerism as a way to "give back" to the University, what advice would you have for them?
A: I encourage all alumni to find a way to give back to the University. Whether it is a gift to the Annual Fund, participating in alumni chapter events, encouraging your kids or neighbors to consider going to BGSU for college or hiring BGSU grads, there is a way every graduate can continue to make BGSU great.

Jan Ruma currently serves as the secretary of the Board of Directors for the Ohio Hospital Association’s Foundation for Healthy Communities. Jan is a past president of the Greater Toledo Area Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and received the 2009 ProMedica Health System Health Advocate of the Year Award, the 2007 St. Vincent Mercy Children’s Hospital Child Advocacy Award and the Toledo 20 UNDER 40 Leadership Award in 2000.

She resides in Toledo with her husband, Pete ’85, and their two children.