Jenna Eckstein

About Jenna Eckstein

Where engineering meets relationships, and partnerships become pipelines for impact.I’m a relationship-builder, strategist, and connector who believes the strongest communities — and the strongest industries — grow where people, purpose, and opportunity intersect.As an Associate Director of Development for the NDSU Foundation serving the College of Engineering, I work at the crossroads of industry needs, alumni passion, workforce pipelines, philanthropy, and student success. My work centers on building partnerships that solve real problems: talent shortages, community challenges, enrollment demands, and the future of engineering in North Dakota and the region.I collaborate with engineering alumni and industry leaders to help them invest in the next generation — through scholarships, named spaces, mentorship, meaningful experiences, and legacy gifts that reflect their values and impact. Whether I’m reconnecting alumni with a program they loved, helping them articulate the legacy they want to build, or guiding them through a vision that aligns with their personal and financial goals, I love walking alongside people as they shape the future of NDSU.I thrive in spaces where collaboration sparks growth. Whether it’s pairing an engineering firm with a student project, structuring a philanthropic partnership inside a new academic complex, or helping a donor see how their story can empower someone else’s — I love creating solutions that make an impact on people’s lives.My strengths include:• Connecting industry needs and alumni passions with academic and community solutions• Building trust quickly and authentically with donors, partners, and leaders• Helping individuals articulate and build their philanthropic legacies• Translating big ideas into actionable strategies with long-term impact• Storytelling that moves people toward generosity, partnership, and purposeI’m especially energized by work in engineering, construction, energy, and manufacturing — industries central to the economic heartbeat of our state and region. My career is evolving toward roles that blend strategic partnerships, community impact, philanthropy, workforce strategy, and people development.Above all, my mission is simple:Help people and organizations grow stronger — together — through connection, purpose, and shared commitment to a better future. If you’re interested in collaborating on philanthropic strategy, alumni engagement, industry partnerships, workforce initiatives, or innovative ways to invest in the next generation of engineers, I’d love to connect.

Experience

1. Associate Director of Development

   NDSU Foundation

   Oct 2023 — Present · Fargo, ND, US

   As Associate Director of Development for the College of Engineering, I build and steward relationships with alumni, donors, and industry partners to strengthen student success, programs, and the future engineering workforce. I manage a strategic portfolio of individual donors while also collaborating with engineering, construction, manufacturing, and energy partners to align philanthropy with workforce needs and academic priorities.My work includes:Partnering with alumni to help them build meaningful philanthropic legaciesCreating engagement pathways that connect industry to students, scholarships, and applied learningDeveloping giving strategies that support facilities, scholarships, research, and student experiencesCrafting impact-driven stories, stewardship materials, and donor experiencesAdvancing initiatives that enhance workforce readiness and community partnershipsI’m passionate about helping people and organizations grow stronger together through connection, purpose, and long-term impact.

Education

• North Dakota State University

  Master's degree In Progress, Leadership in Physical Activity and Sport

  2022 — 2025

• Minnesota State University, Mankato

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Sport and Fitness Administration/Management

  2012 — 2017