James E. Armstrong Award - 2015: Jean T. Collier ’83
2015: Jean T. Collier ’83
With this award, Jean T. Collier ’83 is honored for her years of dedicated service to Notre Dame’s alumni, parents, and friends.
Collier is the Senior Corporate Advisor for Corporate & Foundation Relations in Development at Notre Dame. She graduated from the University in 1983 with a degree in accountancy and went on to earn her M.B.A. in finance from The Stern School of Business at New York University in 1991. Collier was a public accountant for Peat Marwick (KPMG) for two years before joining General Electric, where she worked for 22 years in a variety of leadership capacities.
Collier has been a tireless volunteer leader on behalf of Notre Dame’s alumni, parents, and friends. She served as the president of the Notre Dame Club of Fairfield from 1990 to 1993 and has remained an active club member and leader. She has chaired the club’s UND Celebration Committee for 20 years. For the past ten football seasons, she has hosted at her home the club’s Mass on the Grass, a popular annual event at which members celebrate Mass before watching an Irish football game.
Collier’s volunteer leadership on behalf of alumni, parents, and friends extends beyond the club level. She sat on the Notre Dame Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2000-2004, including a term as board president during her fourth year. She was a member of the University’s Board of Trustees from 2002 to 2004. Collier served on the University’s Advisory Council for Graduate Studies and Research from 2004-2008 and was a member of the Spirit Campaign Cabinet. She has been a particularly strong advocate for the University’s alumnae as both a director of the Thanking Father Ted Foundation and a member of the national ND Women Connect steering committee.
Collier lives in Stratford, Connecticut with her husband, Gary Anderson.
“When I graduated in 1983, I felt like I knew everyone on campus. I soon joined the ND Club of Fairfield County and I met a new family. I didn’t realize then why I needed to feel connected to Notre Dame after graduation but the welcoming family that was and is the local club has been my lifeline to Notre Dame. Now I feel like I know all 135,000 alumni. And what a wonderful family it is. The Armstrong Award is very special to me and I thank my entire ND family for supporting me and encouraging me to represent Our Lady’s University in so many ways. Go Irish!! Always.” (edit)