Jane Shidler ’96, Princeton Schools Committee Chair

After meeting her Alumni Schools Committee (ASC) interviewer, she was moved by the special connections he maintained with the University and its alumni long after graduation. Shidler applied early action and, when admitted, withdrew all of her applications to other universities.

Excited to contribute to life on campus, she experienced “Tiger Spirit” firsthand with numerous opportunities to come together with faculty, students and alumni alike. She was the student chair of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures and a classical vocalist in the Program in Musical Performance. She was a soloist with and a member of the Glee Club, the Princeton University Players and the Katzenjammers, an a cappella group.

Following graduation, Shidler taught French and Spanish at Princeton High School as part of the Princeton Teacher Preparation Program. Shortly thereafter, she embarked on an operatic career with the New York City Opera national and main stage companies. When finally based in Manhattan, she immediately signed up to be an alumni interviewer. “I was eager to give back in this meaningful way, so for years I enjoyed conducting in-person interviews. Then, about 10 years ago, I attended the International Telethon, an event where volunteers interviewed prospective students from around the globe via phone. I loved the idea of Tigers coming together to give back and the camaraderie that went along with it.” A couple of years later, Shidler was asked to lead that effort.

It’s no surprise that Shidler was tapped to chair the Princeton Schools Committee, a position she has embraced. In addition, she is co-chair of the Manhattan/Staten Island ASC; founder of the Princeton Women’s Network of Northern New Jersey; a member of the Alumni Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Alumnae Initiatives; a member of the leadership team of the Princeton Alumni Association of Essex and Hudson Counties; and a committee member of the Princeton Prize in Race Relations of Northern New Jersey. (For Shidler, giving back to Princeton is truly a family affair — her brother, Jordan Cummins ’99, is also an active Princeton volunteer.)

Shidler adds, “I have a passion to bring Tigers together in shared service.” And she is doing just that. Responding to the global need for additional interviewers given the large applicant pool, she initiated the “Tag a Tiger” recruiting campaign, which encourages current interviewers to invite fellow alumni to join the ASC family. More than 1,100 alumni have joined since the program was launched six months ago. “I feel privileged to collaborate with this amazing Tiger family to weave orange-and-black threads of meaning through our shared service to Princeton and beyond.”