The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1493632
8 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ WOLFPACK CLUB NEWS Where did you grow up? "New Paltz, N.Y." What college did you graduate from? "The University at Buffalo for my bachelor's and Southern New Hampshire University for my master's." What is your responsibility at the Wolfpack Club? "I am an assistant director of annual giving. I assist our donors with their annual gifts and philanthropic passions, which helps support academic aid for our 550-plus NC State stu- dent-athletes and enhance Athletics." What did you do before joining the Wolfpack Club? "I spent three years working at Penn State's Nittany Lion Club as an assistant director of development." How did you get started with the Wolfpack Club? "I was a former swimming student-athlete at Buffalo and al- ways wanted to work in college athletics but never knew in what capacity. April of 2017, Buffalo had announced they were cutting four varsity sports, one of them being men's swimming and diving, due to insufficient funding. "From this situation, I wanted to learn more about fund- raising and how to help grow athletic programs financially. I started to look for positions in athletic development offices. "In 2017-2018, I found myself in Cleveland, Ohio, work- ing at the Mid-American Conference [MAC] office. I was working in the championships department, and it was a great opportunity but was not what I wanted to do in college athletics. "I started networking around the conference and was con- nected to a former Wolfpack Club intern, Greg Moon, who was working at Kent State University. He told me everything about the WPC internship program and how he benefited from it. Once applications opened, Greg referred me to the program, and I applied. "Following my experience at the MAC, I was fortunate enough to be part of the WPC internship program. I spent the next year learning and growing in athletic fundraising under the leadership of Bobby Purcell. I knew this place was special and somewhere I could see myself coming back to." What is your favorite part of the job? "My favorite part is working with our passionate WPC members and donors. I enjoy listening and learning about their backgrounds, pas- sions and stories that they have for NC State and NC State Athletics. It's been great building meaningful relationships with our donor base." Family: "I have my wife, Catie, and our dog, Callie." What are your hobbies? "Outside of work I enjoy cook- ing, hiking and camping." Favorite TV show: "'The Office.'" Favorite movie: "'Forest Gump.'" Favorite musical artist: "Foo Fighters." Favorite restaurant: "Ole Time Barbecue." Favorite Wolfpack memory: "Braxton Beverly's game- winning three-point shot against Clemson." What is something most people don't know about you? "I swam for the Puerto Rican National Swim Team after college and represented them at the 2014 Swimming World Championships held in Doha, Qatar." WOLFPACK CLUB STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Eric Culver, Assistant Director of Annual Giving A former Wolfpack Club intern in 2018-19, Culver rejoined the WPC as an assistant director of annual giving in August 2021. He and his wife, Catie, celebrated their wedding in August 2022. PHOTO COURTESY ERIC CULVER