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Joseph and Kelly Mullen: A Profile in Philanthropy
It might be an understatement to say that Joseph and Kelly Mullen have many fond memories of DeSales University. They met on campus at then-Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales in 1983, married six years later, and still count many of their classmates among their best friends to this day.
“If you look at our wedding picture, there are probably 45 people at the wedding from DeSales,” Joe says. Now they’re offering other young men and women the same opportunity to make lasting memories while receiving a quality Catholic education through the Joseph F. and Kelly J. Mullen Endowed Scholarship.
Kelly ’87 (nee Conley) and Joe ’85 grew up in suburban Philadelphia. When it came time to chart an academic course after high school, they were both in search of the same thing—a Catholic college or university that was smaller in size. Kelly, who was recently elected to the University’s Board of Trustees, recalls feeling a sense of community the very first time she visited campus.
“I felt like there was really no difference between an upperclassman and a freshman. I remember that vividly. I felt like all the upperclassmen treated the underclassmen really well.”
And Joe, too, was sold on DeSales from the get-go. “First impressions are the greatest,” he says.
They were both accounting majors when they met at one of the school’s formal dances—Joe was a junior, and Kelly was a freshman. After graduation, Joe began work as a certified public accountant, and Kelly joined an investment firm. She gradually transitioned to a full-time role as a stay-at-home mother as the couple welcomed three children—Cassie, P.J. (Patrick Joseph), and Caroline. Later, Joe became a founding partner at Equus Capital Partners, a real estate investment firm.
Over the years, they were involved with and donated to various nonprofits and philanthropic causes, but they wanted to do more. Joe says the announcement in 2017 that Father James Greenfield, OSFS, Ed.D.—a 1984 graduate who was a year ahead of him at DeSales—would become the University’s fourth president reenergized them.
“We knew what kind of person Father Greenfield is,” Joe says. “With that, we started to really reflect upon our experiences at DeSales and what we could do for the University and, more importantly, for a person. It was the perfect time for us to start giving back to this school that gave us so much.”
The scholarship that bears their name is a $100,000 endowment. The student recipient is guaranteed $10,000 each year as long as he or she continues to meet the criteria laid out for the scholarship: the student must be taking classes full time in either the business or nursing disciplines (the former was the focus of Joe and Kelly during their college days, and the latter is the vocation of their oldest daughter). Also, the student must be in good academic standing and demonstrate a continuing need for financial aid.
Kelly and Joe say they want to be the bridge that connects hardworking students to the benefits of a Salesian education. While they typically prefer to keep their names out of the spotlight, the couple hope this new endowment inspires others to consider how they can make a positive impact on students.
Colin Spring of Andover, Massachusetts, is the very first Mullen scholarship recipient. The first-year lacrosse player is studying economics and says he’s amazed he received the scholarship. “This is a big plus right now,” he says.
Like Joe and Kelly, Spring was impressed with DeSales when he stepped foot on campus for the first time. “I loved how open it was,” he says. “So that did help seal the deal.”
Kelly and Joe live in Chester County, about an hour away from the DeSales campus. They enjoy their visits to Center Valley and marvel at how much the campus has changed. “It’s incredible,” Kelly says. “And it’s only getting better.”
And yet, it’s not even necessary to take that car ride to feel that kinship with their alma mater. “We run into people all the time that have a connection to the school,” says Kelly. “It always comes back to DeSales.” “And that’s anywhere from the Jersey shore to Florida,” adds Joe.
