Director of Advancement Affinity Programs
Messiah has been a huge part of my life ever since I stepped onto campus as a first-year student in the fall of 1994. I immediately fell in love with the beautiful campus, the engaged students, and the kind & genuine people who work here, and all of those feelings remain true today. I enjoy working at my alma mater because it provides me the opportunity to give back to an institution that I love dearly, and whose mission as a Christian university is one that I support wholeheartedly. The world needs Messiah University graduates, and I feel blessed to play a part in the life of this amazing institution.
I started my career at Messiah in 2010 in the Career & Professional Development Center. Throughout my time as a career counselor, I was continually impressed by the quality of our students, and this feeling was reinforced further by the many employers I interacted with, who constantly told me that their Messiah hires were among the top performers in their organizations. My work as a career counselor enabled me to see first-hand the dedication, professionalism, and commitment to service that our recent graduates brought with them to the workplace. So when an opportunity presented itself to join the Office of Development in January of 2022, I jumped at the chance to assist current and potential donors understand the value that Messiah students and alumni provide to the world outside of Grantham. Messiah University could not produce such high-quality alumni without the support of its donors, and I am grateful to be able to interact with so many incredible individuals who share my belief in the importance of a Messiah education. As the Director of Advancement Affinity Programs, I have the immense privilege of spearheading various Messiah-affiliated programs, including the Lancaster and BuxMont regional councils, the Women of Influence mentoring program, the Into the City program, the Retired Educators group, and the Council of Alumni Law Professionals, among others. I am so thankful for the support and enthusiasm of our alumni and am grateful to be able to interact with so many of them on a regular basis.
When not at work, I enjoy spending time with my husband George (a double Messiah alum), and our three children, two of which are current students at Messiah. A favorite pastime is going for walks, and you can frequently find me on the fitness trail that goes through Messiah’s picturesque campus.
Abby Book '98
Director of Advancement Affinity Programs
Messiah University
One University Avenue
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
abook@messiah.edu
(717) 766-2511 x 3912