Alumni Association Honors Smeal Board Of Visitors Member

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA (June 1, 2007) – Linda Wolf, a member of the Smeal College of Business Board of Visitors, has been named an Honorary Alumna by the Penn State Alumni Association.

Wolf and three other longtime champions and benefactors of Penn State were honored during a ceremony on June 1 at The Nittany Lion Inn.

Wolf's involvement with Penn State began after her marriage to 1965 Penn State graduate Ron Wolf, and her involvement has continued over the years, intensifying when her younger son enrolled in Smeal four years ago.

Wolf was asked to serve on the college's Board of Visitors and currently chairs the Board's marketing subcommittee. In these roles, she has been instrumental in re-branding and redefining how the college markets itself to the outside world.

She brings more than 30 years of experience in advertising and marketing to the Board of Visitors, including her years as chairperson and chief executive officer of Leo Burnett Worldwide, a global marketing agency with 96 offices in 84 countries.

In that role, Wolf saw Burnett through numerous regional new business wins including China Telecom, Holiday Inn, Sprint and Visa International/Latin America, and expanded assignments with existing clients such as Disney, Hallmark, Kellogg's, Nintendo, and Proctor & Gamble.

Previously, as CEO of Leo Burnett USA, Wolf played an integral part in the most aggressive growth and diversification drive in Burnett's history, including strategic moves into healthcare, technology, urban marketing, and Hispanic marketing.

She currently sits on the boards of Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History, The Off The Street Club, and the Economic Club of Chicago. She is a member of the University of Illinois Advisory Board, The Chicago Network, and The Committee of 200.

The Penn State Alumni Association has given the Honorary Alumni Award since 1973 to recognize individuals who, while not graduates of Penn State, have worked significantly toward bettering the University. Since the award was established in 1973, 85 individuals have been given Honorary Alumni status. Honorary Alumni are given a life membership in the Penn State Alumni Association, as well as a commemorative award.

With more than 159,000 members, the Penn State Alumni Association is the largest dues-paying alumni association in the world. Established in 1870, the Alumni Association strives to connect alumni to the University and to each other, provide valuable benefits to members and support the University's mission of teaching, research and service. The Penn State Alumni Association organizes hundreds of annual events and programs designed to inform, involve, and inspire Penn State alumni.