On this episode of the Bengal Business Radio Show, host Dr. Alex Bolinger speaks with Janice Tanner, Director of Development for Idaho State University’s College of Business.
Tanner discusses her path from Athens, Georgia to the Intermountain West, and her career trajectory from higher-education enrollment to her current role connecting alumni and donors with meaningful opportunities to support Idaho State students. She explains how development work begins with listening: learning what matters to donors, identifying the needs of the College of Business and its students, and bringing those priorities together in ways that create a tangible, lasting impact.
The conversation highlights the personal stories behind philanthropy at ISU and how donors to the ISU College of Business create scholarships and other types of gifts to honor their time in the college and the people who touched their lives. Tanner also discusses how donor support helps make student experiences possible, from sales competitions and entrepreneurial pitch events to accounting symposiums and scholarship assistance that can close a financial gap for a student.
Bolinger and Tanner also look ahead to Idaho State’s university-wide comprehensive campaign, launched during ISU’s 125th anniversary, and explore the importance of curiosity, flexibility, relationship-building, and staying open to unexpected career paths. Tanner offers practical encouragement for students and professionals alike: keep learning, embrace challenging opportunities, and recognize that careers often develop through a series of productive “zigs and zags.”
