In her beginning, Jeri Kozobarich had clerical responsibilities in the College of Social Work, and 20 years later she is the director of advancement in College of Education.
In December, Kozobarich was awarded the Commitment to Professional Development Award by the Committee on Opportunity and Equity of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, in recognizition for her efforts as a mentor for minorities and women.
“This is the perfect award for her,” said Christine Kozobarich, Jeri’s daughter. “She has a personal and professional commitment to diversity, and develops great opportunities.”
Yolanda Hancock, the director of development and alumni programs at John Marshal Law School and a former OSU graduate student, said Kozobarich deserved the award.
“I nominated Jeri without hesitation because of her mentoring,” Hancock said. “She had a tremendous positive impact on my life and my career. She is my mentor, my friend and is an overall beautiful person inside and out.”
Debora Knowles, assistant director of development for the College of Education, has been Kozobarich’s co-worker for three years. She helped nominate Kozobarich for the award.
“Jeri embodies the top 10 characteristics of a successful fund-raiser,” Knowles said.
The Council, which honored Kozobarich, is a national organization for professionals in fund raising and alumni advancement communications. Each year nominations are accepted and one professional is chosen to receive the development award.
This is not the only time Kozobarich was recognized. OSU recognized her for her accomplishments by awarding her the OSU Distinguished Staff award and the College of Education Staff Service award. She is an author of a chapter in the book, “Midlevel Administrators: Profiles and Pathways.”
Kozobarich has served on many committees at OSU, including the University Senate Committee on Diversity and the University Staff Advisory Committee. She was on the search committee when former President William “Brit” Kirwan was chosen.
Kozobarich said she wants her impact not to have been on the committees she served, but in her own office and personal relationships. She does not believe she has affected lives at the university more than OSU has influenced her.
“They have taught me how to be a good mentor. I learn so much from the people I mentor,” Kozobarich said. “People at the university made opportunities available to me.”
Contrary to her modesty, Kozobarich has impacted lives at OSU.
“She knows how to open doors,” Knowles said.
Kozobarich said her “No. 1 support system” is her two children. Her daughter traveled to Chicago with Kozobarich when she received the award.
Christine Kozobarich saw the great work her mother did from an early age, visiting the office with her mother regularly.
“She loves her job,” Christine Kozobarich said. “She is respected in attitude towards the people she works with and the donors.”
“Every day is different. My ultimate goal is to be a better development officer and the more I learn, the better I get at my job,” Kozobarich said.
She has a four-step process in her daily routine: identify potential donors, cultivate them, solicit for funding for the college and adequately thank them for their contribution. A successful day is when she has made contacts with donors and has worked toward her long-range view of development.
“At the end of the day this is something I would like to be remembered for,” Kozobarich said.
