“ Every time I come back to campus, it feels like home.” David Rowitt '78
Alumni Couple Finds Rewards in Giving Back
Dave and Nancy Shapiro Rowitt
Dave Rowitt ’78 and Nancy Shapiro ’74 first crossed paths at Ithaca College in fall 1973 when she led a campus tour that he took as a prospective student. They met again on a blind date in 1982 and, a year to the day later, Nancy and Dave married. Their commitment includes their devotion to Ithaca College. “We both feel very strongly about the College,” Nancy said, “and we feel that giving back is a responsibility for alums.” In 2008 they proposed to fund a new course in the School of Business on managing personal finances. The class teaches students the concepts of individual financial decision making. “It was exactly what we were passionate about — financial literacy,” Dave said. “As a kid growing up, my grandfather always talked to me about the importance of investing, specifically through
Turning passion for financial literacy into learning opportunities for students.
stocks. It was he who inspired me by giving me my first shares of stock and watching them grow.” The class provides students the knowledge to manage their personal finances and helps them develop the judgment to use that knowledge in making sound choices, says Joseph Cheng, associate professor of finance and international business: “This class adds a lot of wisdom, and, therefore, adds a lot of value to the students’ education.” For Amanda Kessler ’08, the course improved her ability to deal with realworld financial situations. “I was able to handle my taxes confidently for the first time on my own out of college because of what I learned in the class,” she said. “I also had a better understanding of the value of starting my 401(k) even if my contributions were small at first, which is what we learned in the course: start early and build a good foundation slowly.”
That’s just why the Rowitts made this commitment to the curriculum.
Dave graduated from the School of Business and in 1983 received an M.B.A. in management from Fairleigh Dickinson University. After a career in IT, most recently at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, he is seeking a position as a business analyst in the Orlando, Florida, area. He says he took his own advice — investing wisely and being financially responsible — so they are able to live comfortably until a new job opportunity arises for him.
“We would like to educate as many students as possible — both business and nonbusiness majors — in the area of finance, so they will make wise decisions and understand what they are doing,’’ said Dave. “Providing this course for students helps them understand how to save money and keep their investments accumulating throughout the years, with the goal in mind of retiring and having a comfortable life.” Nancy has a degree in music education from Ithaca and received a master of music degree in music performance from the University of Miami in 1980. She taught instrumental music in public schools for several years before retiring to raise the couple’s two children, who are now grown. Recently she rekindled her musical training and became a sub for the Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps at Epcot at Walt Disney World.
The Rowitts are extremely happy with Ithaca College and its leaders’ vision for the future. Said Dave, “We are pleased with the growth and development of the College, not only for students, but also the physical changes on campus. We are both very proud to contribute to that.” n
“ I was able to handle my taxes confidently because of what I learned in the class.” Amamda Kessler '08
Ithaca College School of Business 9