Why I Give: Emily Peters '03
Emily during her trips across the U.S. at the Grand Cayon (left). Emily in Ireland where she studied on a Rotary Scholarship (middle). Emily with her cat on the day of her Law School Graduation from Case Western University (right).
Emily Peters ’03: W&J has given so much to me that I want to pay forward the gift of education.
Emily Peters ’03: W&J has given so much to me that I want to pay forward the gift of education.
Emily has traveled a winding road since her days at W&J to her current position as Director of Charitable Estate Planning at Chatham University. After graduating from W&J in 2003, Emily worked for W&J’s Office of Admission for a year before enrolling in Case Western Reserve University School of Law. During her second year of law school, Emily was awarded a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship to study in Ireland. This afforded Emily the opportunity to travel to Galway and study at the National University of Ireland for a year in between her second and third years of law school. While in Ireland, Emily earned her Master’s Degree in economics and started her own tourism business called The Ghosts of Galway. She left the Emerald Isle after thirteen months to return to law school, and graduated with her J.D. in May 2008. After law school, Emily went to work in charitable estate planning at Gettysburg College for two and a half years before returning to Pittsburgh to work at Chatham University in January 2011.
Emily’s life has not been all work and no play since graduating from W&J. She has taken advantage of her free time to travel around the world. To date, she has visited 17 countries and 49 states – a feat which has involved many trips with W&J friends. She is looking forward to visiting her 50th state, Alaska, later this year.
Emily stays well connected to W&J through her volunteer work and giving. She currently represents Young Alumni on the Alumni Executive Council. She joined the prestigious John McMillian Society this year by giving $1,000 to W&J. Emily has been a consistent donor to the College since graduation – her first gift was $25 and her giving has gradually grown each year. Emily received a Presidential Scholarship to attend W&J, and believes it is her duty to pay forward the gift of education to future Presidents. Approximately 95% of W&J students receive some form of financial assistance. Given that statistic, Emily said: “Many students attend W&J thanks to the generosity of others. I believe all graduates of the College have an obligation to keep the tradition of generosity alive by giving to the annual fund and paying forward the gift of a W&J education.”