Volunteer Spotlight: Joe Carver '59

A year after I graduated in 1959, I began my “career” in higher education in the Admissions Office at Dickinson. Ben James was my first boss. (By the way he interviewed and admitted me.) After a couple of years at the College, I felt that I had to spread out by going to another institution for purposes of advancement. That precluded me from doing volunteer work for Dickinson. Moving on to several other colleges, I spent the bulk of my career in admissions and could not really volunteer until I retired in 1999. 

I attended a Volunteer Weekend in 1999 and my volunteerism took off.

I serve as an admissions volunteer in Massachusetts and Arizona and I am the class agent for my class. 

The admissions interviewing process keeps me up to date on college policies and procedures and allows me to meet bright young women and men who might become future Dickinsonians. My class agent work permits me to stay in touch with old friends and hopefully grow the coffers at the college.

Few would have believed that I would devote my entire career to higher education.

Be certain that you can exert the time and energy to your volunteer assignments; don't sign on unless you will do the work.

I've learned that volunteering keeps you younger than your years. 

I give to help sustain Dickinson to make it a better institution than it was when I was an undergraduate.