Accomplished alumni join BGSU Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors

Jan Heppe of Chesterfield, N.J., Charles “Charlie” Kowal of Atlanta, and Judith D. Pryor of Washington D.C., joined the Bowling Green State University Foundation Inc. Board of Directors during the Feb. 20, 2016, meeting at the BGSU campus. The foundation supports the university in its fundraising efforts that focus on providing access, excellence and value to students from all walks of life.

A 1974 graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in home economics, Heppe recently retired as president of Burberry for the Americas, which experienced substantial growth with her leadership. She previously served as vice president of stores for Burberry USA following leadership in the retail industry, including serving as senior vice president and director of stores for Loehmann’s.

Kowal graduated from BGSU in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and earned a juris doctor degree from Case Western Reserve University. He joined Ernst & Young following his graduation from law school and rose through the ranks to partner before retiring. While at BGSU, he was a member of Sigma Chi and Omicron Delta Kappa and pitched for two years on the BGSU baseball team.

Judith Pryor, a 1985 graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in interpersonal and public communication, is vice president for External Affairs at OPIC (Overseas Private Investment Corporation), a U.S. federal government agency. Before joining OPIC, she spent nearly a decade with WorldSpace Inc., a multi-billion dollar satellite radio startup serving developing markets worldwide. She held similar positions with COMSAT, Orion Network Systems, and Henry J. Kaufman Advertising.

“Bowling Green State University is fortunate to have such accomplished alumni who are willing to share their time and knowledge as we work to advance this great university,” President Mary Ellen Mazey said. “BGSU is a special place, and our students are fortunate to have champions such as these.”

Heppe, Kowal and Pryor were sworn in during the February meeting and will each serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors for the BGSU Foundation Inc.