Susquehanna Sweethearts to Connue Their SU Legacy

Margaret (Meg) Pierce '96 and Todd '97 Frantz met as students when she was pursuing a degree in theater, and he was studying geological and environmental science.

Both were acve outside of the classroom, with Meg joining Sigma Alpha Iota women's music fraternity, Alpha Psi Omega Naonal Theatre Honor Society, and Zeta Tau Alpha sorority; and Todd becoming a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Sigma Phi Epsilon. In addion to their Greek organizaons, both were acve in the arts and performed in a variety of the university's music ensembles - which is where their paths first crossed.

Aer graduang, Meg secured a position doing theatrical property work at a regional theater company. The next year, Todd joined an environmental consulting firm. Both appreciated that they were able to immediately apply the skills that they learned at Susquehanna.

"The science faculty had such a great understanding of the skills needed to be a successful environmental consultant," says Todd. "Their development of my writing skills combined with the scientific knowledge they instilled in me set me on a great path for success."

Today, Todd is an environmental consultant and project manager for Parsons Corporation. Additionally, he serves as a borough councilman after havening been on his borough's environmental commission for six years.

Throughout her career, Meg has worked with a variety of arts-based nonprofit organizaons. In 2011, she became the director of arts markeng and recruitment at Rutgers University. Today, she serves as the director of alumni relaons at Thomas Edison State University. She joined Susquehanna's Board of Trustees in 2020.

"My theater classes not only taught me the technical sides of the art, but also made me a better collaborator," adds Meg. "I'm proud of the fact that I've been able to utilize my degree in diverse ways."

In 2021, Meg and Todd made a legacy gift commitment to establish the Margaret Pierce '96 and Todd '97 Frantz Music Department Endowed Fund. Income from the fund will be used for any expenses or financial needs of the students, faculty, staff, or programs of Susquehanna's Department of Music.

Because Meg and Todd's legacy gi will be endowed, their philanthropy will support Susquehanna students in perpetuity.

In 2022, they were inspired to support improvements to the university's recording studio. The newly dedicated Margaret Pierce '96 Frantz and Todd Frantz '97 Recording Studio is nestled in the lower level of Weber Chapel and is fully equipped for mul-track recording and computer music composion. It is considered among the largest and most aesthecally inspiring university studios anywhere.

Following improvements to the studio, Meg and Todd made a gi in support of the university's Center for Environmental Educaon and Research, in honor of Todd's passion for environmental science. Their gi will support the addion of an outdoor classroom and gathering space at the 87-acre center, which also includes a solar array, ecology research plots, beehives, walking trails, and more.

"Now, as a member of the board, my and Todd's interest in the future of SU has been even more reinforced," Meg says. "We are proud to support the university with a legacy gift and other donations for immediate use, and we requested that most of these resources support music because that is where our paths crossed while at SU. It is very special to us."

"We want our support to last well into the future and to care for the Susquehanna generations still to come," they add. "And we hope that it will inspire other Susquehannans to give back to the university, which has given so much - personally and professionally, in our case - to so many people."