Development Officer Peggy Eysenbach didn't first come to the Edgerton Center as an employee, she came as a mom and scout leader.
Thirteen years ago, Eysenbach set up a session with Edgerton Outreach, having heard about the programming through a teaching friend at her child's school. While chaperoning the trip, she felt a connection with the Center and its goals.
From Center Director, J. Kim Vandiver:
"Peggy has shown a particular passion for supporting the MIT students who lead the Edgerton Center’s engineering teams. In 2016 Peggy created the Edgerton Center’s Student Projects Fund as a vehicle to raise resources to provide direct financial support for our clubs and teams. Since that time the Edgerton Center has been able to distribute $500K in support of club and team projects. She has also provided 1:1 mentoring to the business leads of the teams, helping them to raise additional funds and in kind gifts from individual and corporate sponsors. The Center has seen a record growth in student teams from 8 in 2010 to 18 student-led teams in 2024. Today over 400 undergraduates participate annually in the teams. Many students consider their time on an Edgerton Center team to be their most formative experience while at MIT.
Working with groups across the Institute, Peggy identified and/or created numerous opportunities for students to share their projects including displaying the solar car Nimbus at the MIT Museum, presenting to the MIT Corporation, participating in the Edgerton Center’s 25th Anniversary Celebration and producing the annual Edgerton Center Student Showcase. An advocate for women in engineering, Peggy has helped us cultivate and celebrate the accomplishments of women leaders. Today, it is commonplace to have female team captains, a rarity twenty years ago.
Advancing a joyful culture of philanthropy at the Edgerton Center, Peggy has expanded and diversified funding vehicles for the Center. During her tenure, the Center has seen significant growth in support, including gifts from alumni, parents, friends, corporations and foundations. Story telling is key to our success. Peggy has worked effectively with the students and with Edgerton communications staff to gather and share powerful stories of student success.
Please join me in thanking Peggy for her tireless work and wishing her well as she looks forward to spending more time with her family. She will be missed."
