Leading with Determination

Carol Johnson, Ed.D., Chief Development Officer for The Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho, is the fundraising executive for the world’s only agricultural Fraternity. Carol’s qualities include determination, loyalty and passion. Her strong work ethic and deep understanding of fundraising have allowed the organization to transform fundraising efforts, leading to historically high performance and successful fundraising campaigns.

Carol is constantly working; she develops new initiatives regularly and rallies to get everyone involved, which is inspiring. She is also the first to roll up her sleeves and jump in to help with any project. She empowers others by encouraging critical thinking in constructive conversations, which lead them to be successful. Finding success is hard to define — but Carol says she found success when Alpha Gamma Rho hired her. To be able to work amongst agriculture’s most significant leaders for an organization that she truly believes in, she says, is a dream come true. Beyond that, having work she loves and being empowered to do her job on her terms, she says, is the best thing that has ever happened to her. In her mind, this is a true success — and doubling annual goals within two years is a good measure of that success.

The steadfast leader’s inspiration was her high school agricultural education teacher, Rodney Wiedower, as he influenced her to push herself beyond her comfort zone while staying true to who she is. A life lesson that Carol learned is to believe in herself and not allow anyone else’s thoughts to affect her outcome. Carol says she doesn’t think that is necessarily unique to only females, but she has found it an essential leadership tactic to rely on. The Fraternal Purpose is Making Better Men, and through them, broader and better agriculture. Carol works toward this goal daily as she fundraises to build programs enhancing networking opportunities, career placement and extensive professional development for the future leaders of the agricultural industry.

Alpha Gamma Rho is a social-professional fraternity with more than 70 chapters nationwide. It became a reality on April 4, 1908, when two local fraternities combined, Alpha Gamma Rho founded at The Ohio State University on October 10, 1904, and Delta Rho Sigma founded at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on February 6, 1906.

These two groups are responsible for forming a Fraternity that has grown far beyond what was expected. As a charter member from Ohio State University states, “From the start, it was our ambition that the name Alpha Gamma Rho in every agricultural college would stand for all that is honorable and just.” The Fraternity has elevated thousands of young men's social, physical, spiritual, academic and professional status. The four pillars of Alpha Gamma Rho are recruitment, commitment, education and recognition. These four pillars, built upon a firm foundation, support and maintain the integrity of the brotherhood. The Purpose of Alpha Gamma Rho is to Make Better Men, and through them, a broader and better agriculture by surrounding the members with influences tending to encourage individual endeavor, resourcefulness and aggressive effort along lines making for the development of better mental, social, moral and physical qualities; to promote a wider acquaintance and a broader outlook on the part of agricultural men through fellowship in a national organization that stands for the best social, mental and moral development. Alpha Gamma Rho is the Fraternity sharing a common bond within a dynamic, global agriculture committed to fostering the highest values and providing every brother with superior lifelong personal development and professional success.

Armed with brilliant values, Carol is working on a nationwide capital campaign to raise $15 million. Carol says The Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho is getting close to meeting this goal, but there is still much work to be done by the end of the campaign period. As a personal goal, Carol is considering completing a legal studies program.

Carol plans to work for The Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho until retirement. Upon that retirement, she hopes to establish standard operating procedures for every facet of fundraising to leave a legacy allowing the organization to continually grow development support.

Alpha Gamma Rho’s future will be shaped by a new initiative they are fundraising for — Local Chapter Excellence. The organization is meeting all chapters nationwide to serve them better and help the brothers at that locale be their best because of their involvement in a social professional Fraternity that focuses on networks and professional/leadership development.