Doug Massick ’93 embodies the principles and spirit of ASC
Susan and Doug Massick. Photo by Sameer Khan
Doug Massick ’93 grew up in Fond du Lac in upstate Wisconsin, and when he applied to Princeton in 1988, there wasn’t an alumni interviewer within 100 miles. Instead, a banker from Chicago drove through a February snowstorm to interview Massick. The drive took him six hours. Their conversation about service and a life of purpose — plus the lengths to which the Princeton alumnus went to meet him — made a lasting impression on Massick. As soon as he was able to volunteer for the Alumni Schools Committee (ASC), he made interviewing prospective students, especially students from more remote regions, a service priority.
In the recent interview cycle, about 5,000 students were interviewed by alumni volunteers through the Central Pool. It is a massive logistical undertaking to track all the moving parts and a demanding commitment for any volunteer, much less one who is also an ear, nose and throat doctor in Columbus, Ohio.
This work might seem solitary, but it’s in those wee hours of correspondences and Google docs that Massick shines brightest. A self-described introvert, he has a unique gift for connecting with alumni volunteers, for cultivating friendships that renew every year and for generating goodwill for the cause by conveying sincere gratitude to the alumni who donate their time and energy to meet with prospective students.
So many ASC volunteers who come back year after year treasure the friendly weekly banter with Massick. They remember the thoughtful personal remark tucked into Massick’s responses that makes them feel appreciated for their service. He is a font of humility, grace and generosity for every Princetonian who volunteers for the ASC.
Massick will be the first person to tell you that he receives a lot of help. In addition to the 8,000 alumni who participate in the interview process each year, he has the support of PSC leadership and fellow Ohioan Steve Margolis ’81, his Central Pool co-chair. So when he learned that he was being singled out for this special award, his first instinct was to point to others he felt were more deserving. “Working behind the scenes, I recognize everyone else’s efforts,” he said. “My own individual efforts represent just a cog on a single gear of a multi-multi-geared machine.”
His humble reaction only confirms the wisdom of this year’s committee. With his selfless service and devotion to a life of purpose, Massick embodies the principles and spirit of the Award for Service to Princeton.
