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DKGIEF

Meier Bauer, 2024–2028 DKGIEF director, worked as a speech-language pathologist serving children
from 2 to 22 and as a pre-reading development consultant. In 1997, Bauer was inducted into Gamma Phi
Chapter in Ohio State Organization (OSO), ultimately leading OSO as president, first vice president, and
chair of multiple committees. Bauer is the current OSU recording secretary and her chapter’s treasurer.
She was an Alpha Delta State Ohio Educational Foundation founding member and recently completed
serving on the 2022–2024 International Non-dues Revenue Committee. Bauer’s goal for work with the
Foundation is “to increase DKG members’ awareness of funds administered by DKGIEF and develop
collaborative relationships with DKG committees that award funds managed by the Foundation.”
Carol Bostian, 2022–2028 DKGIEF director, taught kindergarten for 41 years and was a professional
development trainer for the North Carolina Teacher Academy. Inducted into North Carolina State
Organization (NC DKG) in 2000, Bostian served 6 years as the NC DKG state editor and on numerous
state committees; she is currently the NC DKG recording secretary. As she embraces work on the DKGIEF
board, Bostian says, “I am proud to represent our members as I work to increase awareness of the varied
awards and benefits from the Foundation and to promote donations to the funds managed by DKGIEF.”
Patricia “Pat” O’Connell Buckley, 2024–2030 DKGIEF director, taught 34 years at the elementary
level and became a Connecticut State Organization (CTSO) member in 1984. A chapter leader serving
on numerous committees and as chapter president, she also led CTSO as president and vice president and
served on many state committees. O’Connell Buckley has been active at the international level, serving
on the educational excellence, finance, and communications and marketing committees and chairing the
Educators Book Award Committee. As a DKGIEF director, she shares, “My goal is to use our current
donor base more efficiently when appreciating our many generous donors and to expand donations to
DKGIEF beyond our current base.”
Dr. Judith Carlson, 2020–2026 DKGIEF founding director, whose career spanned 40 years, was
an elementary physical education teacher and university instructor in Wisconsin and a coach, professor,
student teacher supervisor, and graduate course instructor in North Carolina. She joined the Wisconsin
State Organization in 1973 and transferred her membership to North Carolina (NC DKG) in 1982. Carlson
has served as NC DKG state president, chair of committees, and a founding director of the NC DKG
Educational Foundation (NCDKGEF.) She is the current nominations committee chair and NCDKGEF
board member. At the international level, Carlson served
on several Society committees and was the 2022–2024
DKGIEF board vice chair. She shared her vision:
“As a DKGIEF director, I am committed to working
collaboratively with other directors to unleash innovation,
enhance relationships with members of our Society, and
transform challenges into opportunities.”
Nelle Gentry, 2024–2030 DKGIEF director, spent
her professional career as a mathematics instructor,
retiring after teaching math to middle school through
college students for 39 years. Gentry joined Texas State
Organization (TSO) in 1988 and has served in various
committee positions, as vice president of finance, and as
Area 10 coordinator. Currently a member of the DKG
Personnel Committee, Gentry shared her vision as a
DKGIEF board member: “Being on the DKGIEF board is
a rewarding way to return to others the many opportunities
I have had in DKG. I am motivated to be part of the goal
to ‘educate the world.’”

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