Alumnus John Zeller Selected To Speak At Commencement on May 19

Elmira College Alumnus John Zeller ’73, MSEd ’78, will provide this year’s Commencement address on May 19.

Zeller had an extensive and exemplary career in higher education, retiring in August 2022 as Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Pennsylvania. At Penn he launched many successful fundraising campaigns, including the Power of Penn Campaign, which raised $5.4 billion, exceeding the campaign's goal, and the Making History Campaign, which also topped its goal, raising more than $4.3 billion.

Before joining the University of Pennsylvania, Zeller served as Associate Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine; Associate Vice President for Development at the University of Rochester; and Vice President for Development at Ithaca College.

Zeller has been a member of the Association of American Medical Colleges, Council for Advancement and Support to Education, National Society for Fund Raising Executives, and Penn Club in New York City.

Zeller began his college career at Corning Community College, graduating with an associate's degree in 1971. He then attended Elmira College and graduated in 1973 with a bachelor's in General Studies. He soon returned and received his master's in Education in 1978.

In 1998, Corning Community College awarded Zeller with the Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing him as a positive role model who is involved in his community and for exhibiting accomplishments in his field. Elmira College’s Bette A. Mammone ’78 Memorial Academy honored Zeller in May 2022, for his exceptional success in business, leadership, community, educational, and philanthropic endeavors.