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Magenta Homecoming: A Catalyst for Reconnection
Magenta Homecoming: A Catalyst for Reconnection
In October 2021, Jeff Gibbs ’78 planned to attend Magenta Homecoming on a trip to visit family in Ohio. “I hadn’t been back to the campus in 40 years, I was curious to see it again, and I wanted to introduce my partner – a native Texan who had never been to Ohio – to the places that were important and influential to me,” he recalled. “Muskingum never diminished in its importance to me, but, as a result of numerous moves and career adventures over the years, I had lost touch with Muskingum and Muskingum had lost touch with me. Yet I soon learned that my connections with the place and the people are still very deep, strong, and powerful.”
As Jeff was traveling to Ohio from New Mexico for the weekend, however, his travel was delayed, causing him to miss the scheduled homecoming events, including the football game. “I was disappointed because I hoped to connect with members of the Class of 1976 who would be celebrating their 45th Class Reunion. I was really close with a bunch of them including the RA in Patton Hall my freshman year who became my Kappa Sigma big brother. I stopped by campus to see if anything was still going on or if alums were still around. I did not see anyone, but I learned the location of the 45th reunion dinner. I just showed up and crashed the dinner. They were gracious, welcoming, and I had a wonderful time,” he related. The following year, Jeff returned – with no travel delays – for the dedication of the new Bullock Health and Wellness Complex and for Magenta Homecoming 2022.
I loved my time as a Muskingum student,” Jeff remembers. “It was the place that started me on the path to becoming who I am. There were so many people who influenced me – faculty, staff, administration, my Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers, and other fellow Muskies.
“I began my studies as a biology major on the path to medical school – my father was a physician and that was my family’s expectation for me – but through an internship experience at Mansfield General during an interterm, I learned that I was just not suited to the medical profession.
“Instead, I transitioned my academic focus to the social sciences, where my faculty members provided the guidance I needed to find my own path. I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs and Political Science and Public Affairs, with a minor in Economics. I then completed my J.D. degree at Case Western Reserve University School of Law.”
Jeff’s experiences outside of the classroom were even more important to him
He discovered that Muskingum offered a “surprising range and variety of educational, but not purely academic, opportunities. I was an active student and participated in a diverse and disparate array of co-curricular activities –debate, sports, theatre, music, art, and intramurals – with varying levels of achievement.” For his junior year, he served as an RA in Thomas Hall. As he prepared for his senior year, Jeff was intent on becoming president of his fraternity, Kappa Sigma. He narrowly lost the election. “I was really disappointed, almost crushed. Professor Ron Mulder, who had taken an active part in helping on my path to the legal profession, encouraged me to seek the office of President of the Student Senate as a better step toward law school. I surprised myself by winning the election in a runoff. As president, I had the opportunity of working with all the elected student leaders as well as with the student leaders of the newspaper, the yearbook, the community council, and others in connection with the development of the budget for the student activity fund. I also served on the Board of Trustees as the student representative. I was extremely fortunate to interact with this group of national business and political leaders –people like Phillip Caldwell of Ford Motor Company and Senator John Glenn – who remained fully engaged and committed to Muskingum. I had an unexpected opportunity to collaborate closely with the Trustees in connection with the search for a president of Muskingum following the death of President John Brown. I also had the unique opportunity to assist with Ohio political campaigns for then-professor and later Muskingum President Sam Speck, which was a wonderfully enlightening and empowering experience.”
Through these experiences, Jeff developed his enterprising spirit at Muskingum. “It was an atmosphere where I was encouraged to try new things and had so much support from the faculty and staff for exploring any direction I thought I might like to try, that I never felt any particular risk or worry about what might happen if I changed my mind or was not as successful or proficient as I hoped. I also learned a valuable lesson that disappointment or setback can also be tools to get to your right path.”
Jeff combined his career as a transactional corporate attorney with a variety of entrepreneurial ventures. Opportunities took him to Kansas City, Atlanta, Miami, back to Atlanta and Kansas City, and then to Dallas, and involved him in fields ranging from partner in a law firm to the garment industry to real estate investing to limousine transportation for the 1996 Summer Olympics to the gas station canopy manufacturing business and finally to the position of the General Counsel for a private equity firm. “I was empowered to take non-linear and non-traditional professional, career, and personal paths.”
After reconnecting with Muskingum, I immediately knew that I wanted to give back. I recognize that Muskingum provided an amazing foundation for me and had a tremendous impact on my life. I want to help current and future students have the kinds of opportunities I did.
“In making a gift to the University, I chose to support the Impact Center. The Impact Center’s activities are tremendously important for Muskingum – it directly supports students in preparing for their careers, it connects alumni and students, and it provides alumni with many different opportunities to give back through volunteering.”
By creating access to high-impact experiential learning opportunities and providing career education programming, the Impact Center ensures students are well-prepared with 21st-century skills for work and for life. Muskingum alumni volunteers play an integral role in the Impact Center’s work, sharing their experiences, networking with students, and helping to mentor and inspire them. By serving as a connector for employers, the Impact Center also enhances community partnerships and regional workforce and economic development initiatives.
Jeff was recently back on campus to participate in the Impact Center’s September 30, 2023, Khanna Career Connections Conference, where he presented a talk and connected with students and fellow alumni (see page 8 for more on the Khanna Career Connections Conference).
“Another important way to support Muskingum is by collaborating with other alumni. My reconnection with the University first began when my Kappa Sigma brothers reached out to me to participate in a group gift for the new Henry D. Bullock (’77) Health and Wellness Complex. I was happy to participate in honor of him. When I reconnected with Ken Fouts ’77, I was again happy to contribute to a scholarship fund he was creating in honor of Professor David Quinn, who was an influential teacher and mentor.
“I am passionate about encouraging all alumni to reconnect, engage with, and give back to Muskingum at any level and in any way comfortable for each of them. As the Long Magenta Line, collectively, we have broad shoulders, and we can help to elevate the University and the student experience. We have the unique and rewarding opportunity to directly impact students’ lives, through giving our time and experiences and by sharing some good fortune. Every alum has something important they can offer!”
Jeff shares his Long Magenta Line legacy with his sister, Brenda Gibbs Nelson ’80. He and his life partner Alex Zuniga reside in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
