Seton Hill University’s School of Business and Technology and the Wukich Center for Entrepreneurial Opportunities, in partnership with the university’s Alumni College, will present “A Conversation with Sylvia Hill Fields, President of the Eden Hall Foundation” on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. in Cecilian Hall on the Second Floor of Seton Hill’s Administration Building. At the event, which is part of the Farrell Lecture Series at Seton Hill, Fields, will engage in a conversation based on questions from Seton Hill students about her extensive experience in philanthropy. 

Alumni and members of the public can register for either the in-person or virtual event online. Seton Hill students, faculty and staff do not need to register.

“We are delighted to have Seton Hill Distinguished Alumna Sylvia Hill Fields present the 2024 Farrell Lecture and offer valuable insights on philanthropic leadership and the importance of collaboration and building coalitions through partnerships,” Seton Hill President Mary C. Finger said. “Sylvia serves as an outstanding example to current Seton Hill students of using their education to transform the world.”

Fields has led Eden Hall Foundation since 1996. She oversees a foundation with $260 million in total assets—and is responsible for allocating approximately $15 million annually. A Distinguished Alumna of Seton Hill, Sylvia began her grantmaking career at the Duquesne Light Company, where she was best known for establishing a Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy. 

Throughout her career, Sylvia has worked to build a better community by focusing on opportunities for women, girls and underserved youth. She initiated the Women in Philanthropy program with Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania, and she’s a founding member of the African American Funders Group of Southwestern Pennsylvania. 

Sylvia has served on Boards for many nonprofits in the Pittsburgh region, including Seton Hill, Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum and Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation. She is the past board president of the YWCA USA. Sylvia currently serves on the board of the Forbes Funds and the United Way of southwestern Pennsylvania.

Sylvia has received numerous awards, including Pittsburgh’s 50 Most Influential African American Women by the New Pittsburgh Courier, the Governor’s Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania Award and Pittsburgh’s ATHENA Award.