While many people
don’t like to be
volunteered to do things,
it turned out well for
Sandy Koeppl Barsotti
’87, and even better for
IUP.
About 10 years after graduating,
Barsotti got a call from a friend,
a fellow alumna. “I hope you
don’t mind, but I signed you
up for an IUP committee I’m on,” she
remembers her friend saying.
Barsotti, a Journalism graduate who lives
in Pittsburgh, hesitantly agreed to go to
the meeting, thinking it might be a good
way to network. From that call, Barsotti
went on to devote more than a decade to
the IUP Alumni Association, which she
now helps to lead as vice president. She
also serves on the Foundation for IUP board of directors and on several university
committees. Twice, she’s been asked to speak
at graduation.
“It’s been terribly rewarding,” said Barsotti,
who is marketing director for Direct
Response Technologies in Pittsburgh. “I
wouldn’t trade it for the world. Everybody
on the alumni board has this same warm
and fuzzy spot in their heart for IUP.”
While all IUP graduates have automatic
membership in the Alumni Association, the
group’s board of directors actively works to
establish ways for alumni to stay connected.
Joining Barsotti in leading the Alumni
Association are Mike Staub ’80, president;
Matt Konetschni ’95, M’98, secretary; and
Phil Carrai ’83, treasurer. The officers,
who took on their new roles in July, each
followed a unique path through the
organization.
Board president Staub’s fond memories of
his days living in Shafer Hall were what
introduced him to the Alumni Association.
The Criminology graduate had kept in touch
with friends from the seventh and eighth
floors of the residence hall for several years.
About 15 years after graduation, he called
the Alumni Relations office at IUP for help
in arranging a reunion.
After organizing a few reunions, he became
involved with the Admissions office by
representing IUP at college fairs and signing
recruitment letters. He was also involved in
the Harrisburg alumni chapter.
In 2002, Staub received the IUP
Distinguished Alumni Award. At that
time, he was in charge of all agents in
the state environmental crime effort for
the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney
General. He’s now deputy chief of the
Bureau of Investigative Services within the
office’s Criminal Law Division.
“I’m happy and proud to be an IUP
graduate,” he said. “I think it’s important for
the alumni to stay involved and voice their
opinions on what’s happening on campus.
I think alumni have an important part to
play in the future of the university.”
Carrai started out by attending a few
Alumni Association events in the
Washington, D.C., area. When a board
member encouraged him to become more
involved and visit campus, he discovered
that he enjoyed reconnecting with IUP.
“Getting back to campus and seeing how
it’s grown got me re-energized about IUP,”
he said. “I really look forward to being on
campus. It’s inspiring seeing the students
again and remembering how IUP provided
the foundation for my career and was a big
part of my life.”
“I think alumni have
an important part to
play in the future of the
university.”
At IUP, Carrai had a double major in
Management Information Systems and
Accounting. He later earned a Master of
Business Administration from Carnegie
Mellon University. The Eberly College of
Business and Information Technology recognized him for his entrepreneurship
and inducted him into its Hall of Distinction
earlier this year. He currently serves as
president of Technology and Training
Solutions for Kratos Defense and Security
Solutions, Inc.
Both Carrai and board secretary Konetschni
travel from Washington, D.C., to IUP a few
times a year for alumni board meetings and
events such as Homecoming.
Konetschni first became involved with the
Alumni Association even before he was an
alumnus—it was during his sophomore
year at IUP. In 1993, he was one of the
founding members of the IUP Ambassadors,
a student organization that serves as a
link between alumni, current students,
prospective students, and the rest of the
university community.
While studying for his master’s degree
in Student Affairs in Higher Education at IUP, Konetschni worked as a graduate
assistant in the Alumni Relations office,
where he took on the role of advisor for the
Ambassadors.
In addition to serving as a board officer,
Konetschni has helped host events in the
D.C. area, where he works as a director of
event programming for a global business
travel association.
“I consider it a privilege and a great
opportunity to give back to my alma mater,”
he said. “I think there’s a greater need for
alumni now—giving time, financially,
and by networking—to help current and
prospective students and the future of
the university. To play a role in all that is
personally fulfilling.”
Breezedale, home to IUP alumni
services
IUP volunteers can be found across the
nation and around the world. Explore the
possibilities of how you can get involved
with the IUP Alumni Association.
IUP Alumni Association Board of Directors
Mike Staub ’80:
president
Sandy Koeppl Barsotti ’87:
vice president
Matt Konetschni ’95, M’98:
secretary
Phil Carrai ’83:
treasurer
*Tim Burns ’90
Thomas Costello ’88
Sandra Hoover Diefenderfer ’67
Micah Johnson ’85
*Ward Johnson ’80
Florence Mauchant M’85
*John Ninosky ’93
Dave Reed ’00
Ryan Renz ’05
Elaine Tselepis Sheetz ’71
Pamela Sledge-Coley ’97
Rebecca Pounds Szwalek ’01
*New member this year