Alumna gives $120,000 to endow retention and persistence programming

November 19, 2024

Albion College made quite an impression on Gail Snyder Hetler ‘68. Hetler now hopes to have a lasting impact on future generations of Britons.

Hetler donated $120,000 in October ‘24 to sustain student retention and success programming created as part of the Title III Strengthening Institutions Program by establishing The Mae Ola Dunklin Student Empowerment Fund. Dunklin is a college trustee, long-time Albion educator, and former director of the Fritz Shurmur Center for Teacher Development. She was instrumental in the development of Albion’s Maymester teacher-training program, which was eventually renamed MaeMester in Dunklin’s honor. She and Hetler have been friends since 2008.

“We connected immediately as fellow teachers with the common goal of providing students with the best education possible,” Hetler recalled. “At the time, for both of us, this meant preparing upcoming teachers to be able to go beyond their content skills so they connect with all students, are open to different ways of learning, actively engage students in learning, and make a difference in students’ lives.”

“Over the years, Mae Ola and I have stayed in touch each time I’m back on campus and I have continued to be impressed with everything she is doing to support the success of future teachers and their students,” Hetler said. “Maymester, which has become ‘Maemester’ in her honor, is an ongoing impressive example of her dedication to empowering all students.”  

As part of Albion’s Title III Strengthening Institutions Program funded by a federal grant, the Department of Education will match Hetler’s donation to provide a $240,000 endowment to support ongoing annual programmatic needs.

“Gail’s generous and dedicated commitment to providing all students at Albion College with supportive resources to enhance the educational experience is reflective in her successful career as an educator, mentor, and national leader for academic excellence in the classroom and the community,” Albion College Director of Philanthropy Jon Hankins said. “She embraces the college’s values rooted in a love of learning, while sustaining a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and learner-centered environment. The relationship she built years ago with Mae Ola Dunklin inspired her to give back through the lens of these shared values.”

Hetler graduated from Albion College in 1968 with a degree in French, English, and secondary education. She earned her master’s degree in education from California State University, East Bay in 1975. A National Board certified teacher, Hetler is a retired high school French instructor from El Cerrito High School, West Contra Costa, California. From 2009 to 2013, she was the site director of East Bay World Language Project at the University of California, Berkeley.

 This is not the first time she has provided philanthropic support to further educational efforts at Albion. In 2004, Gail and her husband, Robert (Bob) Hetler ‘64, established the Gail Snyder Hetler ‘68 Endowed Education Scholarship for a worthy and deserving student who is a member of the Fritz Shurmur Center for Teacher Development.

Hetler said this latest gift is drawn from funds she inherited from her parents, Helen Moberg Snyder and H. Miles Snyder, who were strong advocates for education.

“The opportunity to provide the gift to establish ‘The Mae Ola Dunklin Student Empowerment Fund’ is an ideal way that I can honor and recognize Mae Ola for her dedication to teach, inspire, and build a future for all students as well as to fulfill a goal of my parents,” Hetler said.