Courtesy of Amy Cole Buehler

Amy Cole Buehler posing for her profile picture for her Linkedin account.

Alumna Amy Cole Buehler assumed the role as executive director of the Parkway Alumni Association after former executive director Leah McCoy. Her first day as executive director began on July 30.

“I believe deeply in the importance and value of Parkway as an exceptional education system, a good steward of resources and a valuable community partner,” Buehler said. “As a Parkway graduate and current parent, the opportunity to give back to the District as well as current and future Alumni will be a privilege.”

Buehler has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 25 years in the St. Louis area. Her career began at Forsyth School working in fund development, and she also worked several positions in Development Departments for other nonprofit organizations including the YWCA Of Metropolitan St. Louis, Gateway Foundation, The Women’s Safe House and Peter & Paul Community Services.

“I [also] became the executive director of Therapeutic Horsemanship, now called TREE House, and then the Animal Protective Association (APA). After leaving the APA, I formed a consulting group to help nonprofits with their fund development efforts, strategic planning, leadership and board development and capital and major giving campaigns which gave me the opportunity to throughout the state for the past 10 years,” Buehler said. I am also [currently] the Director of the Nonprofit Management Master’s Program at Washington University in St. Louis as well as Nonprofit Management Master’s Program faculty.”

Buehler has new goals and visions to bring to the Parkway Alumni Association (PAA) that she believes will enhance the Association’s success.

“The opportunity to engage synergistic groups of people with the Association is a wonderful opportunity. To further the excellent work of the PAA and engage with these groups is what I hope to bring to the District,” Buehler said. [Some of my goals include] more current student involvement, creating affinity groups with the help of the PAA, furthering the community building that is already happening within the District, continuing our networking with a greater emphasis on the social media aspect of connecting alumni all over the country/world and continuing to keep our alumni interested and informed of the District’s activities, aims and educational philosophy.”

To achieve her goals for the future of the PAA, Buehler says she will have to be out and among schools, students, alumni, faculty, parents and the community. Buehler finds this to be the most exciting part about being the new executive director.

“[I will be] listening to them, understanding what is important to them in an Alumni Association and helping to create a plan that will bring these ambitions to fruition alongside the Administration,” Buehler said. “Building community and partnerships is the future for the PAA and I believe the continued work of the District. It is an honor to be a part of this growth.”