Young Alumni Award: World needs more grads like Dana (Carnes) Pursley '06

Dana Carnes Pursley ’06 enjoyed her college experience so much that she decided never to leave.

For the past 23 years, Dana has promoted student development, leadership and lifelong learning through her student affairs work at several colleges. She has made it her mission to cultivate and empower students and to create opportunities for them to make lasting change in their organizations, campuses, communities and beyond.

For her efforts, Dana is this year’s recipient of the Young Alumni Achievement Award, presented Thursday night at the annual Beyond the Berg event.

First … Beyond the Berg

Each year, the Alumni Engagement Office invites graduating seniors to celebrate their new roles as alumni at Beyond the Berg. It’s a lively, festive celebration highlighted by a huge raffle of amazing prizes donated by the members of Heidelberg’s Alumni Council.

Although the Class of ‘25 won’t officially become alumni until Sunday, when Heidelberg celebrates its 172d Commencement, Beyond the Berg is their official welcome into the alumni family.

Three Alumni Council members – President Melissa Harrison ’02, Vice President Ken Fruscella ’84 and Stacy Cox ’94 – assisted with the Beyond the Berg program, with Melissa presenting the Young Alumni Achievement Award. All also participated in the raffle, donating prizes and picking winning numbers. The raffle was hosted by Ashley Helmstetter, Vice President for Advancement, Alumni, and Community Relations and her team, along with his annual role as the “Vanna White” of Beyond the Berg, President Rob Huntington.

Now … our Young Alumni Award winner

The Young Alumni Award recognizes a recent grad between their 5th and 20th class reunions who has demonstrated leadership abilities and achieved distinction in their field of employment and/or service to humankind.
Dana certainly fits that bill with her work with college students. The mom of two and first-generation college student recalled that she committed to Heidelberg before ever visiting campus. “I had chosen to study child and adolescent psychology and I felt like I was really wanted here,” she told the soon-to-be graduates.

Although her first visit was somewhat of a shock, driving through flat corn fields and a cow farm on State Route 53, Dana soon realized “I was right where I needed to be for my career in psychology.”

At Heidelberg, she was guided by a host of awesome faculty mentors and grew individually through a series of leadership roles on campus, sparking her lifelong commitment to student leadership and development.

During her time as an undergrad at the ‘Berg, Dana was involved in Alpha Phi Omega (service honorary), Delta Sigma Chi, Berg Events Council, Student Senate, Psi Chi and Tri Beta. She held leadership positions with many of those while also serving as an Orientation Leader and an Admission tour guide – the epitome of an engaged student servant-leader.

Following her graduation in 2006, Dana went on to earn her master’s degree in higher education and student affairs from The Ohio State University. Currently, she serves as the director of the Alford Community Leadership and Involvement Center at Denison University, where she leads a team focused on fostering student connections and a strong sense of belonging.

Throughout her career, she has been a champion for leadership education, student organizations, hazing prevention, civic engagement, Greek life and event programming – all components of a thriving Student Affairs function.

Reflecting on what leadership roles have meant in her career, Dana told the ‘Berg students that their best years are ahead of them.

“Heidelberg is not your peak,” she said. “It’s your preparation. You will have an impact on the world because of the foundation that Heidelberg has laid for you.”

The world needs Heidelberg grads – individuals who are willing to go out and explore something new, she added, inspiring students to follow their passions.

“Do what makes you excited … gets you out of bed in the morning.”

With graduation upcoming on Sunday, she encouraged the soon-to-be alumni to share their gratitude for the people who have had a positive impact on their experience. ‘

“You may be leaving Heidelberg this week, but the Berg will never leave you.”