Honoring four decades of Leadership at Marietta College
MARIETTA, Ohio, Sept. 30, 2026 — Marietta College’s McDonough Leadership Program will recognize the people who have shaped its history and legacy at its 40th Anniversary Celebration in the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center during the College’s Homecoming Weekend on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
The celebration will bring together alumni, students and members of the Marietta College community to reflect on four decades of the McDonough Leadership Program and its impact on generations of students, alumni and the broader community.
“I am extremely excited because I love speaking with the alumni and hearing about what the program was like for them and about how they apply what they learned from McDonough in the real world,” said McDonough Center for Leadership and Business Dean Amy Elliott.
The event will begin with a social hour, allowing alumni and students to network, reconnect and converse about the early days of McDonough and how the program has evolved. The second half of the celebration will feature brief speeches by Marietta College President Kathleen Poorman Dougherty, alumni Michael Muffett ’91 and Ashley Wollam ’08, and Dr. Elliott. The speakers will discuss the history of McDonough, how the Center motivates its members to expand their knowledge of leadership, practice leadership skills and grow as engaged leaders on campus, in the community and beyond, as well as plans for the future of the Center.
Student intern Adelynn Harrison ’29 has helped lead the planning for the celebration, working with Dr. Elliott and two alumni committees. Through the experience, Harrison has applied the leadership skills she has developed through the McDonough Leadership Program while helping shape the celebration with alumni.
“This event has been so incredibly special to me. I think the idea that so many different people are involved in the event really shows how important our alumni are to this campus,” said Harrison.
The event will also include a buffet of hors d’oeuvres and dessert, a selfie station, a memorabilia table and music featuring top hits from the past 40 years to help set the tone. Registration for the event is $40 and closes Oct. 3. Students, faculty, family and friends are welcome to attend. To learn more or register for the McDonough 40th Anniversary Celebration, visit marietta.edu/2026-homecoming or contact Amy Elliott at ace003@marietta.edu.
About Marietta College
Located in Marietta, Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts college with a strong focus on experiential learning, leadership, and service. Charted in 1835, the College serves approximately 1,000 full-time undergraduate and graduate students, fostering the confidence, optimism and opportunity needed to build meaningful careers and lives of purpose. Marietta College is consistently recognized among top regional colleges by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review, Forbes.com, Wall Street Journal/College Pulse and other rankings. marietta.edu/rankings-success.
The celebration will bring together alumni, students and members of the Marietta College community to reflect on four decades of the McDonough Leadership Program and its impact on generations of students, alumni and the broader community.
“I am extremely excited because I love speaking with the alumni and hearing about what the program was like for them and about how they apply what they learned from McDonough in the real world,” said McDonough Center for Leadership and Business Dean Amy Elliott.
The event will begin with a social hour, allowing alumni and students to network, reconnect and converse about the early days of McDonough and how the program has evolved. The second half of the celebration will feature brief speeches by Marietta College President Kathleen Poorman Dougherty, alumni Michael Muffett ’91 and Ashley Wollam ’08, and Dr. Elliott. The speakers will discuss the history of McDonough, how the Center motivates its members to expand their knowledge of leadership, practice leadership skills and grow as engaged leaders on campus, in the community and beyond, as well as plans for the future of the Center.
Student intern Adelynn Harrison ’29 has helped lead the planning for the celebration, working with Dr. Elliott and two alumni committees. Through the experience, Harrison has applied the leadership skills she has developed through the McDonough Leadership Program while helping shape the celebration with alumni.
“This event has been so incredibly special to me. I think the idea that so many different people are involved in the event really shows how important our alumni are to this campus,” said Harrison.
The event will also include a buffet of hors d’oeuvres and dessert, a selfie station, a memorabilia table and music featuring top hits from the past 40 years to help set the tone. Registration for the event is $40 and closes Oct. 3. Students, faculty, family and friends are welcome to attend. To learn more or register for the McDonough 40th Anniversary Celebration, visit marietta.edu/2026-homecoming or contact Amy Elliott at ace003@marietta.edu.
About Marietta College
Located in Marietta, Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts college with a strong focus on experiential learning, leadership, and service. Charted in 1835, the College serves approximately 1,000 full-time undergraduate and graduate students, fostering the confidence, optimism and opportunity needed to build meaningful careers and lives of purpose. Marietta College is consistently recognized among top regional colleges by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review, Forbes.com, Wall Street Journal/College Pulse and other rankings. marietta.edu/rankings-success.